Noyo River Bridge

Last updated
Noyo Bridge
Noyo river bridge.jpg
The sixth, and current, Noyo Bridge
Coordinates 39°25′38″N123°48′24″W / 39.4273°N 123.8068°W / 39.4273; -123.8068 (Noyo Bridge)
CarriesCalifornia 1.svg SR 1, motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses Noyo River
Locale Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California, United States
Official nameNoyo River Bridge
Owner California Department of Transportation
Maintained by CalTrans District 1
ID number 10 0298 [lower-alpha 1]
Preceded byGeorgia-Pacific Haul Road Bridge
Characteristics
Design Box girder (Beam) [lower-alpha 1]
Material Prestressed concrete [lower-alpha 1]
Total length875 feet (267 m) [lower-alpha 1]
Width86.6 feet (26.4 m) [lower-alpha 1]
Height110 feet (34 m)
Longest span327.1 feet (99.7 m) [lower-alpha 1]
No. of spans3
Piers in water2
Load limit5.96 short tons (5.4  t) (HS20+Mod)
Clearance below 91.9 feet (28.0 m) [lower-alpha 1]
No. of lanes 4 (11.8 ft (3.6 m) wide) [lower-alpha 2]
History
Constructed byMCM Construction [1]
Construction startMay 2002 (2002-05)
Construction endAugust 2005 (2005-08) [lower-alpha 3]
Construction costUS$31.1 million
OpenedAugust 5, 2005 (2005-08-05)
InauguratedAugust 12, 2005 (2005-08-12)
ReplacesNoyo River Bridge (5th, 1948-2005)
Statistics
Daily traffic 23,950 (3% trucks) [lower-alpha 1]
Location
Noyo River Bridge
Location on California State Route 1
(Shoreline Highway/Main Street)
References

The Noyo River Bridge is a box girder bridge constructed of prestressed concrete crossing the Noyo River in Fort Bragg, California. [2] Owned and maintained by the California Department of Transportation, it carries motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic over the waterway as part of California State Route 1, which is also signed as Main Street within the Fort Bragg city limits. Construction on the current bridge began in 2002 and was completed in August 2005, [3] now the sixth such structure to span the river near its mouth and bear the name Noyo River Bridge, replacing a two-lane steel deck truss bridge built in 1948. [4]

Contents

Despite being listed as only four lanes, the inclusion of a full lane-width median, a bicycle path for both directions and the use of the ST-10 scenic railings resulted in a bridge deck that measures 86.6 feet (26.4 m) wide. In comparison, the deck width of the Golden Gate Bridge is only 82 feet (25 m). [5]

Predecessors

The current bridge is the sixth crossing to have been built at the mouth of the Noyo River. Only the two most recent iterations have been high-span designs, carrying traffic above Noyo Cove [6] at the same elevation as the coastal bluffs on which the majority of the city is located. The distance between the two sides at the cove is over 800 feet, though the river below is less than 100 feet wide. The first four bridges were instead sited 1,000 feet (300 m) east or approximately 1⁄3 mile upriver at one of the few shore-level spaces along the river's length that would permit footings on the riverbanks themselves as it abruptly turns approximately 130° and the navigation channel narrows to less than 30 feet. Prior to the first bridge being built in 1861, river crossings were made on a cable ferry which also operated at the same narrow point in the channel. [7]

Railings

Rendering of CalTrans ST-10 railing on Noyo River Bridge Noyo River Bridge ST-10 Railing - rendering.png
Rendering of CalTrans ST-10 railing on Noyo River Bridge

Noyo River Bridge served as the impetus for CalTrans approving an entirely new design specification for bridge railings, one that preserved the sightlines for motorists and passengers to a far greater degree than any approved for use in the state for over 50 years. [8] The initial design proposal had called for use of the standard freeway overpass configuration that had been in use since the 60s and employed solid concrete barriers on each side measuring 42 inches (110 cm) high that completely obstructed the view of the ocean and harbor for occupants in standard passenger cars. [9] This prompted a local outcry and attention from the California Coastal Commission who worked with CalTrans for over two years on alternatives that preserved sightlines without negatively impacting safety tests, ultimately resulting in an entirely new "scenic bridge" railing design termed ST-10 being approved for use state-wide and installed on the new Noyo Bridge.

The 5th bridge can be seen in the movies Johnny Belinda, Overboard, The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and Dying Young. [10] It is also shown in multiple episodes of Murder, She Wrote. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 1</span> State highway in California, United States

State Route 1 (SR 1) is a major north–south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the U.S. state of California. At 656 miles (1,056 km), it is the longest state route in California, and the second-longest in the US after Montana Highway 200. SR 1 has several portions designated as either Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Cabrillo Highway, Shoreline Highway, or Coast Highway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 5 (I-5) near Dana Point in Orange County and its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 101 (US 101) near Leggett in Mendocino County. SR 1 also at times runs concurrently with US 101, most notably through a 54-mile (87 km) stretch in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and across the Golden Gate Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino County, California</span> County in the United States

Mendocino County is a county located on the North Coast of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,601. The county seat is Ukiah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Bragg, California</span> City in California, United States

Fort Bragg is a city along the North Coast of California along in Mendocino County. The city is 24 miles (39 km) west of Willits, at an elevation of 85 feet (26 m). Its population was 6,983 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino, California</span> Place in California, United States

Mendocino is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California, United States. The name comes from Cape Mendocino 85 miles (137 km) to the north, named by early Spanish navigators in honor of Antonio de Mendoza, Viceroy of New Spain. Despite its small size, the town's scenic location on a headland surrounded by the Pacific Ocean has made it extremely popular as an artists' colony and with vacationers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eel River (California)</span> River in northern California, United States

The Eel River is a major river, about 196 miles (315 km) long, in northwestern California. The river and its tributaries form the third-largest watershed entirely in California, draining a rugged area of 3,684 square miles (9,540 km2) in five counties. The river flows generally northward through the Coast Ranges west of the Sacramento Valley, emptying into the Pacific Ocean about 10 miles (16 km) downstream from Fortuna and just south of Humboldt Bay. The river provides groundwater recharge, recreation, and industrial, agricultural and municipal water supply.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Western Railroad</span> Heritage railroad in Mendocino County, California, US

The California Western Railroad, AKA Mendocino Railway, popularly called the Skunk Train, is a rail freight and heritage railroad transport railway in Mendocino County, California, United States, running from the railroad's headquarters in the coastal town of Fort Bragg to the interchange with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad at Willits.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino Range</span> Coastal mountain range of California, USA

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noyo River</span> River in Mendocino County, California (USA) with its mouth at Fort Bragg

The Noyo River is a river on the north coast of California in Mendocino County. The river's headwaters are in the steep Mendocino Range, but downstream the river flows through gently sloping marine terraces before draining into the Pacific Ocean. The 113 square miles (290 km2) watershed extends east to the small city of Willits and the river's mouth is at Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, which uses the river for drinking water; it is neighbored on the south by Hare Creek and the Big River, on the east by the South Fork Eel River, and on the north by Ten Mile River, named for its distance from the Noyo River. The average annual rainfall is between 40 inches (1,000 mm) and 65 inches (1,700 mm).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big River (California)</span> River in Mendocino County, California (USA), south of Mendocino Village

The Big River is a 41.7-mile-long (67.1 km) river in Mendocino County, California, that flows from the northern California Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean at Mendocino, Mendocino County, California. From the mouth, brackish waters extend 8 miles (13 km) upstream, forming the longest undeveloped estuary in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noyo Harbor</span> Harbor in Fort Bragg, California

Noyo Harbor is the port and boat docking area for Fort Bragg, California, USA. It is built near the mouth of the Noyo River in the town of Noyo, just south of Fort Bragg. Noyo Harbor is located in Mendocino County 130 nautical miles (240 km) northwest of the Port of San Francisco and 145 nautical miles (269 km) south-southeast of the port of Crescent City, California. Highway 1 passes over the Noyo Bridge above the harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacKerricher State Park</span> State park in California, United States

MacKerricher State Park is a state park in California in the United States. It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. It covers 9 miles (14 km) of coastline and contains several types of coastal habitat, including beaches, dunes, headlands, coves, wetlands, tide pools, forest, and a freshwater lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian Gulch State Park</span> State park in Mendocino County, California, United States

Russian Gulch State Park is a California State Park in coastal Mendocino County, California, 2 mi (3.2 km) north of Mendocino and 7 mi (11 km) south of Fort Bragg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Demonstration State Forest</span> Protected public forest in Mendocino County, California, US

Jackson Demonstration State Forest is a public forest in Mendocino County, California managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It is the largest demonstration forest operated by the State of California. The forest land is located along California State Highway 20 between Willits and the coastal city of Fort Bragg. It is named after Jacob Green Jackson, founder of Caspar Lumber Company, which formerly owned the land. The forest holds sacred value as an ancestral home and ceremonial site for the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redwood Empire Council</span>

Redwood Empire Council is the local council of the Boy Scouts of America that serves youth in Mendocino and Sonoma counties in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noyo, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Noyo is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the center of Fort Bragg, at an elevation of 108 feet. It is named after the Noyo River, on which it lies; the Noyo River in turn was misnamed by white settlers to the Mendocino area after a village of the Pomo people named Noyo several miles north, on Pudding Creek. The Pomo named the creek after their village, and the settlers transferred the name to the larger river to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ten Mile River (California)</span> River in Mendocino County, California (USA), north of Fort Bragg

Ten Mile River is in northern Mendocino County, California, United States. It is named for the fact that its mouth is 10 miles (16 km) north of the mouth of the Noyo River. The lands around lower Ten Mile River provide valuable freshwater and saltwater marsh habitat for a variety of birds. The Ten Mile River Estuary, Ten Mile Beach, and Ten Mile State Marine Reserve together form a marine protected area that extends from the estuary out to 5 nautical miles. Ten Mile Beach is also part of MacKerricher State Park, which extends approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) southward from the mouth of the river to Cleone and includes approximately 1,300 acres (526 ha) of the "most pristine stretch of sand dunes [in California]."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albion River Bridge</span> Bridge in California

The Albion River Bridge is a wooden deck truss bridge crossing the Albion River in Mendocino County, California. It is the only remaining wooden bridge on California State Route 1; dramatic views of the bridge are visible from the nearby town of Albion, California. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hare Creek</span> Stream in Mendocino County, California

Hare Creek is a small stream in Mendocino County, California, just south of Fort Bragg. It is approximately 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi) long and all but the final 1.14 miles (1.83 km) of its watercourse lies within Jackson Demonstration State Forest. With its four tributaries it drains an area of approximately 2,400 hectares (9.3 sq mi). Its watershed is bordered on the north by the Noyo River, and on the south by Digger Creek. It is a significant habitat for coho salmon. It meets the Pacific Ocean at Hare Creek Beach, also known as Babcock Beach, owned and operated by the Mendocino Land Trust.

References

  1. ↑ "About MCM Construction". MCM Construction. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  2. ↑ "STATE ROUTE 001 over NOYO RIVER & HARBOR DR, Mendocino County, California". National Bridge Inventory. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Vince. "Noyo History". Scenic Bridge Railings. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ Phillips, Tony (April 16, 2016). "Pictorial History of the Six Bridges that have crossed the Noyo River, Fort Bragg, CA". Hobo Laments. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ Reeve, Scott. "Pedestrian Payload Adds Up: Just ask Golden Gate Bridge Officials". Creative Composites Group. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ Pomeroy, Caroline; Thomson, Cynthia J.; Stevens, Melissa M. (August 2010). "California's North Coast Fishing Communities Historical Perspective and Recent Trends - Fort Bragg/Noyo Harbor Fishing Community Profile" (PDF). California Sea Grant - University of California, Santa Cruz. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2021. Major improvements to the Highway 1 bridge were completed in 1948, when a high-span bridge over Noyo Cove replaced the upriver road crossing.
  7. ↑ Stebbins, Beth (1986). The Noyo (PDF). Mendocino, California: Bear and Stebbins. pp. iv, 55. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  8. ↑ Taylor, Vince (Winter 2006). "The View from the Noyo Bridge" (PDF). Coast and Ocean. Vol. 22, no. 3. The California Coastal Conservancy. pp. 28–35. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  9. ↑ Taylor, Vince (December 1, 1999). "The Cal-transmogrification of Scenic Bridge Railings" (PDF). Scenic Bridge Railings. Dharma Cloud Foundation. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  10. ↑ Levene, Bruce (July 1998). Mendocino & the Movies: Hollywood and Television Motion Pictures Filmed on the Mendocino Coast. Mendocino, California: Pacific Transcriptions. ISBN   9780933391147. OCLC   56966584 . Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  11. ↑ Stevens, Janice; Hunter, Pat (2012). An artist and a Writer Travel Highway 1 North. Fresno, California: Craven Street Books. ISBN   978-1-61035-053-2. OCLC   761851538 . Retrieved 2021-11-25.
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