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Council hears why long-delayed bridge replacement keeps costing more
Summary
City staff told council federal and state requirements, including newly listed species studies, have repeatedly added time and costs to the long-running Manatee Road bridge replacement project funded with federal dollars routed through Caltrans.
Lathrop city staff told the council Wednesday that the Manatee Road bridge replacement project has been delayed and costed up by changing state and federal requirements, including the recent listing of an aquatic species that requires additional study.
Assistant City Manager Michael King and staff explained the project began years ago after the city secured about $40 million in federal funding. King said engineers determined replacement would be cheaper than repair and the funds must be run through Caltrans, which has added evolving environmental and design requirements over time.
"Part of this additional cost here is to study that new species," King said, identifying the "long, thin smelt" as a factor requiring new analysis. He told council the city cannot proceed with Caltrans approvals until the study is done. "We don't really have a choice if we want to keep moving forward this project," King said.
Council members expressed frustration about the repeated budget adjustments and the long timeline. "This project was approved probably more than 12 years ago. Here we are 12 years and we're not very much closer to building the project," one council member said. King and staff said the state has altered its assessment criteria over time and that the bridge's rating improved under new metrics, which changed the prioritization but not the need to replace or rebuild in the long term.
City staff said the delays are not unique: similar projects on State Route 120 and I-5 experience evolving regulatory demands that add time and cost. The council did not take a formal vote on the project at the meeting but asked staff to continue pursuing approvals and federal coordination.
Staff noted the city has attempted to seek higher-level mediation in Sacramento when possible, but typical practice requires working with local Caltrans offices and meeting new requirements as they arise. The council emphasized interest in timely progress and urged staff to report back with updates.
