Public works reports Whitney Bridge work on schedule; county expects April 30 opening

Public Works Director Mike Arante told the Board of Supervisors April 8 that crews are finishing backfilling and compaction work on the Whitney Bridge project and that the county expects to open the route by April 30.

Arante presented photos showing the headwall, trench backfill, compaction equipment and armoring at the pipe outflow and inflow. He said compaction testers are checking to achieve about 95% compaction and that crews are building riprap around the outflow for protection.

Because the county asphalt plant does not open until the second week of May, Arante said crews may truck asphalt from Bakersfield for the base course. “If it works, we’re going to continue,” Arante said, explaining the contractor would lay asphalt in two 2-inch lifts and monitor temperatures to avoid raveling. If long-haul asphalt cools too much, the county will put a temporary surface and complete final paving once the local plant opens.

Arante thanked contractors Speese and Black Gold for timely work and said all backfilling will be completed this week. He told the board the plan is to open the road by April 30 “no later than.”

Supervisors asked whether trucking asphalt from Bakersfield was normal; Arante said it was not typical but feasible if tarped and temperature-monitored. He said he was “comfortable using [the material] as a base course knowing that we’ll make sure we put a good 2 inch cap on it.”

Why it matters: The project restores a county route and includes erosion-control armoring and compaction testing to ensure stability; timing and temporary paving arrangements matter to local travel and safety.

What’s next: Public Works will finish backfilling and compaction testing this week; staff will monitor asphalt placement and complete final paving once the local plant opens in May.