Board authorizes eminent-domain step to secure right-of-way for Stephenson Bridge rehabilitation

The Solano County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 adopted a resolution of necessity to acquire, by eminent domain if needed, a 1.45-acre portion of APN 0107-020-040 for the Stephenson Bridge rehabilitation project.

The resolution authorizes initiation of eminent-domain proceedings if negotiations with the parcel's trustees cannot be completed. County engineers and surveyors told the board the right-of-way is required to realign the road approaches, install scour protection and allow structural rehabilitation of the historic tied‑arch bridge that spans Putah Creek between Winters and Davis.

Why it matters: Staff said the bridge is seismically vulnerable and scour-critical; federal and state bridge funding has been secured and will be at risk if the county cannot deliver the project on schedule. Without the work, planners said the structure's condition could deteriorate further and public access and safety would be jeopardized.

What staff presented

Resource Management engineering manager Matt Tuggle and county surveyor Chris Ferrucci outlined the rehabilitation plan: seismic and scour protection using new deep foundations, carbon-fiber wraps and post-tensioning to strengthen arch piers and spans, plus adjusted roadway alignments to improve safety. The design reuses the historic arch and aims to extend the structure's service life for many decades.

Staff said two property owners require temporary and permanent construction access: UC Davis (access) and an adjacent private property owned by a family trust (the orchard parcel). Negotiations with the trust's trustees produced offers required by state law, but not all trustees agreed to sell or grant the easements; county negotiators reported extended but unsuccessful talks with some family members.

Right-of-way specifics

- Total area sought from APN 0107-020-040: 1.45 acres (about 0.67 acres of permanent roadway right-of-way and about 0.78 acres described as an uneconomic remainder). - Staff noted the uneconomic remainder would be a parcel area that cannot be reasonably farmed without access and could impose maintenance burdens on the owner.

Funding and schedule

The county has secured a federal earmark (about $3.4 million, staff said) and Caltrans highway-bridge program funds (about $6.4 million) for construction, and staff stated the project is scheduled to start in 2025. Tuggle told the board the project must meet federal delivery timelines or risk losing program funding.

Public comment and landowner remarks

Conservation and stream advocates supported the staff approach. Rich Maravich, a long-time Putah Creek steward, told the board the realignment and small additional setback would help revegetation along the creek and reduce chronic illegal dumping at the bridge: "The new road alignment ... could allow some space for revegetation, particularly, trees and shrubs that act as natural barriers," he said.

A family representative (identified in the hearing as a trust stakeholder) objected to the taking and urged the board to consider building an entirely new crossing and preserving the existing structure as a pedestrian/bicycle bridge. He described the current crossing as "obsolete for farmers" and characterized the proposed work as "a band aid on the real problem." The landowner expressed concern about crime, parking and long-term land use for the small remnant that would remain after acquisition.

Board action

After discussion of alternatives and a review of the offers made to the owners, the board adopted the resolution of necessity by a unanimous vote (5-0). The resolution makes the findings required by state law: (1) public interest and necessity requires the project; (2) the project has been planned and located to produce the greatest public good with least private injury; (3) the property to be acquired is necessary for the project; and (4) the statutorily required offers were made to owners of record.

Next steps and implementation

Staff said it will continue to pursue voluntary acquisition with the trustees while the resolution establishes the county's legal authority to proceed if discussions remain unresolved. Resource Management also asked the board to note that the project must meet the federal and Caltrans funding delivery schedule and that the county will coordinate environmental mitigation measures for bats, migratory birds and elderberry habitat as previously analyzed under CEQA/NEPA.

The board's vote clears the way for the county to proceed with final right-of-way acquisition steps and to move toward construction contract procurement for the Stephenson Bridge rehabilitation project.