Council OKs Mission Boulevard bridge amendment as costs rise; city share increases to $5.2 million

The City Council on Jan. 13 approved an amendment to a multi‑agency service agreement that increases Riverside’s funding obligation for the Mission Boulevard bridge replacement after construction bids significantly exceeded earlier estimates.

Public Works Project Manager Ed Lara told the council the existing 1,100‑foot Mission Boulevard structure — built in 1958 — was found to be seismically deficient and that replacement, supported by federal Highway Bridge Program funds and state seismic matching funds, is the recommended solution. The county administered the procurement; the lowest responsive bid was from Skanska USA at $58,882,197, about 12.5% over the county’s estimate, and total projected project costs have grown to roughly $91 million.

Lara said Riverside’s proportional funding obligation escalated from an earlier estimate of about $1.23 million to $5,208,186, triggering the proposed First Amendment. The amendment increases the City’s total agreement amount by $3,975,276. The council heard questions about whether an accelerated single‑phase closure would reduce costs; staff said single‑phase construction would likely shorten schedule but increase community impact and could change cost assumptions.

The council voted unanimously to approve Amendment No. 1 and authorized the city manager to execute the amendment with minor non‑substantive changes. Councilmembers praised the project’s historic details and the multipurpose trail and pedestrian amenities in the redesign.

What happens next: the county will administer construction; city staff said the additional funds will be required in future fiscal years and that funding sources under discussion include regional transportation funding and previously budgeted local contributions.