Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public Works outlines extensive emergency repairs at Kaelin Road Bridge over New River
Summary
Public Works briefed the board on emergency repair work at the Kaelin Road Bridge after erosion and foundation issues were found at the south abutment; staff said the work will likely require in‑water work, Army Corps permitting, deeper pile reinforcement and additional months of design and construction with significant local and grant funding.
Imperial County Public Works staff updated the Board of Supervisors on emergency repairs at the Kaelin Road Bridge, reporting unexpected foundation failures and the prospect of in‑water work that will require third‑party permits.
John Gay, representing Public Works, described a multi‑span bridge over the New River where sediment accumulation formed an island and shifted flows toward the south abutment. The county previously installed sheet‑pile wall protection; when crews drove the steel wall, lateral loads exposed an original wooden abutment and pushed columns forward, producing a failure the county had not anticipated. “We noticed that there was water that was creeping in behind our new steel wall,” Gay said, adding that the river’s shifting channel created concern the bridge could be lost without additional work.
Public Works explained the repair strategy: reuse the existing deep cylindrical piles (installed to about 50 feet), drill and thread interior deeper piles, and encase with concrete and steel to create a stable new foundation. The plan may also require putting a temporary barrier wall in the river and rerouting flow while work is completed. That in‑water work will require permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and coordination with the Imperial Irrigation District and other partners.
Gay said the county has spent roughly $1,400,000 on the project to date. He provided cost context by citing recent bridge projects: Dogwood Road bridge replacement cost roughly $7.5 million; Picacho Road bridge replacement was on the order of $8 million. Funding for the Kaelin Road emergency work to date is locally sourced; Gay told the board county funding sources include local transportation allocations, SB 1 funds and other local capital funds, and staff are pursuing grant funding with two grant‑writing firms.
County staff said the repair will take several more months of design and permitting and that they will return with a more detailed timeline and cost estimate. Supervisors asked about worker safety and environmental protections because the New River is heavily contaminated; Gay said contractors must provide safety plans and that environmental health and permitting will inform protective measures.
Board members also confirmed that the board approved an emergency declaration in January to streamline procurement and contracting for this and similar bridge repairs; Gay said emergency declarations allow county contractors and partners to move quickly while staff work through permitting timelines.
