Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
San Luis Obispo County approves temporary bridge at Chiquetti Crossing after safety, farming concerns
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved a $656,000 contract to install a temporary bridge at Chiquetti Crossing, a measure backers say will ease safety and farm-transport problems while a permanent replacement—estimated at $8–9 million—is pursued for 2027. The vote was 3–2.
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors approved a contract on Oct. 8 to install a temporary bridge at Chiquetti Crossing, voting 3–2 to award a contractor to place and later remove a temporary span while the county pursues a permanent replacement.
Supporters told the board the closure of the existing crossing has created safety risks for school traffic, emergency response delays and significant disruptions for local farms. “This is way more than that. This is a huge safety problem,” said Tom Ikeda, a third-generation farmer who farms on both sides of the crossing.
The board approved what staff described as a single-installation, single-removal contract with an estimated cost of $656,000; staff said the temporary structure would be installed after the rainy season in spring (roughly March–April) and removed before the next rainy season (November–December) if high flows threatened it. County Public Works Deputy Director John Waddell told supervisors the permanent replacement is expected to cost about $8–9 million and is on track for construction in 2027. “It is about, 8 or…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
