Oroville council asks Caltrans for safety study of Highway 70 bridge connecting Montgomery and Grand
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The city approved a unanimous letter to Caltrans and BCAG requesting a safety and feasibility study to widen the Highway 70 bridge between Montgomery Street and Grand Avenue, citing recent crashes, lack of shoulder refuge, ADA and evacuation concerns and asking for short-term safety fixes and multi-agency coordination.
The Oroville City Council voted unanimously to send a letter to Caltrans and the Butte County Association of Governments asking for a focused safety and feasibility study for the Highway 70 segment that crosses the Feather River between Montgomery Street and Grand Avenue.
Vice Mayor Smith and staff framed the action as a public-safety step following a series of serious crashes on the in-town bridge, including a double-fatal collision on a stretch with no shoulder refuge. Council members and public commenters urged that any study include ADA access, pedestrian safety measures and short-term improvements such as better lighting and pedestrian deterrents while long-term engineering work proceeds.
"This is a prudent safety-driven step that also supports emergency access and future development," Vice Mayor Smith said in presenting the item. Council members requested that the letter also call for a multi-agency coordination meeting including Caltrans, BCAG, Butte County CHP and emergency management personnel and suggested including community perspectives.
A public commenter who frequently films crashes urged caution about relying on grant funding but supported better lights and other immediate mitigations. Council discussed potential funding partnerships (including a suggestion to consider state water contractors because the roadway was re-routed for the Oroville Dam project) and asked staff to finalize and send the letter with agreed edits.
The motion to send the letter passed unanimously.
What’s next: Staff will transmit the letter to Caltrans and BCAG and seek a multi-agency meeting to review initial findings and identify near-term safety measures and funding pathways.