Murrieta council extends emergency declaration for Hayes Avenue Bridge after permitting setbacks

Murrieta City Council voted unanimously Oct. 7 to extend an emergency declaration for the Hayes Avenue Bridge over Miller Canyon Creek while staff pursues an alternative design following a permit denial.

City Engineer Jeff Hitch told the council the wooden bridge, closed earlier this year after structural defects were discovered, cannot be repaired to current code to support full emergency apparatus and that the city’s originally proposed box culvert emergency permit was rejected by regulators. Hitch said the city has pivoted to a prefabricated steel arch span and is working with ConTech, the manufacturer, but the project faces a complicating underground conflict with a Western Municipal Water District pipeline on the bridge’s west side.

"The emergency declaration is a need based on severing the fire department access," Hitch said, explaining that current access limitations could leave some west-side residents with single-route evacuation in certain storm conditions. He described the arch-span option as manufactured offsite, set on poured footings, and quick to install once foundations are ready, but cautioned the design must avoid placing footings directly on the water district line.

Hitch outlined a tentative schedule: approximately six weeks to complete the detailed design, followed by an eight- to ten-week manufacturing window for an arch span, with installation to follow. He said one temporary alternative—replacing decking and girders to restore limited vehicle access but not to fire-truck standards—was estimated at about $250,000 and could restore local vehicle access sooner, while a more extensive short-term "band-aid" approach could cost substantially more.

Council members pressed staff on timelines and trade-offs. Council member DeForest said residents west of Murrieta Creek were frustrated by the extended closure and pressed for the fastest safe option that would restore broader access; DeForest moved to extend the emergency declaration and Mayor Pro Tem John Lavelle seconded the motion. The motion carried 5–0.

Staff said they would meet with Western Municipal Water District the next day to review a concept design that protects the water line and, if Western signs off on the concept, city staff expect to proceed under the city manager’s contract authority to initiate the fabrication design and ordering process.

The council did not approve a construction contract tonight; the extension allows staff to continue using emergency procurement and permitting pathways while pursuing a permanent solution. The city manager and engineering staff committed to provide a community update after the Western meeting and bring any required future approvals back to council.