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Union Pacific, Legacy Works outline Surf Bridge replacement and $1 million grant; community engagement planned
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Summary
Union Pacific and consultant Legacy Works presented a plan to replace the Surf Bridge, citing flood risk and ecological constraints. Staff and consultants said a $1,000,000 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant will fund engineering and early planning, with design/permitting through 2027 and construction targeted to 2028–30.
Lindy Althouse, a Union Pacific Railroad representative, told the Lompoc City Council on March 17 that the Surf Bridge replacement is intended to reduce flood risk, restore estuarine function and improve community access. She said the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded the project a $1,000,000 grant to pay for engineering, planning and biological surveys and that permitting and design work will continue through 2027, with construction expected to begin in 2028 or 2029 and complete by 2030.
"The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation gave us a $1,000,000 grant to pay for engineering, for planning, for biological surveys," Althouse said. She added that the railroad expects to limit track closures to roughly three weeks during the bridge replacement and is exploring whether portions of County Park might be used for staging and parking during construction.
Ellen Kukowski of Legacy Works Group described the early-stage community engagement program that will feed into design decisions. Legacy Works released a targeted survey in January, plans five focus groups (6–8 participants each) beginning the day after the presentation, and expects to hold a town hall in July to present design options. Sophie (Legacy Works) said the engagement includes outreach to groups that are typically harder to reach and that feedback will be synthesized and returned to the design and engineering team.
Council members pressed staff and presenters about beach access and environmental constraints. Althouse noted the bridge and nearby beach sit adjacent to Vandenberg Space Force Base and habitat for federally listed birds, limiting some access options; she cited the Rivers and Harbors Act, Section 10, when discussing navigability questions. Council members discussed the idea of shifting year‑round access locations to reduce impacts on nesting snowy plovers, and councilors encouraged residents to take the project survey.
Project highlights noted to the council included: a $1,000,000 planning grant; a community engagement process beginning immediately with surveys and focus groups; a design and permitting schedule through 2027; and a construction window targeted for 2028–29 with a likely completion by 2030. The project team asked residents to visit the project website and take the survey at sanienasurfbridge.org (QR code provided).
Next steps: Legacy Works will continue scheduled outreach, synthesize community feedback for designers, and present design options at a town hall in July before designs are submitted to Union Pacific and permitting agencies.
