Capitola council orders study of replacement and retrofit options for aging Stockton Avenue Bridge

The Capitola City Council voted 4–1 on April 9 to direct staff to return with a contract to develop preliminary plans and analysis for multiple replacement and retrofit options for the Stockton Avenue Bridge, a 1933 structure the city’s engineers describe as showing widespread deterioration.

City staff opened the presentation by noting the bridge is approximately 93 years old and that $850,000 has been set aside for studies and early planning — $350,000 previously budgeted by the city and a $500,000 grant from the Department of Water Resources. Julia Harberson of consulting firm CSW summarized the background and said the feasibility work recommended pursuing replacement. Tom Swayze of Biggs Cardoza, the structural engineer, showed photographs of exposed, corroded rebar and described deck delamination observed during openings into the bridge underside.

"We saw probably about 20% of the underside of the bridge deck," Swayze said, adding that corrosion has caused delamination and that while the primary girder reinforcement appears serviceable today, the bridge is well into its expected service life. He described the structure as "scour critical," meaning stream erosion has exposed or could expose foundations in a way that undermines pile support.

Council members asked technical questions about scour, seismic vulnerabilities and whether a deck replacement could extend the bridge’s life. Engineers said timber piles lack positive uplift restraint, raising seismic concerns, and recommended monitoring the structure every three months. On the question of lifespan, engineers said a full deck replacement combined with scour mitigation and seismic retrofit might add decades but would be costly; as presented in prior feasibility work, an entire bridge replacement had been estimated in the mid‑teens of millions (previously $15–$18 million) though presenters cautioned construction cost inflation could raise that figure and that the earlier estimate excluded some design costs.

Members of the public and business representatives urged the council to coordinate the bridge work with nearby projects (Cliff Drive resiliency, a trestle/trail project) and to plan traffic mitigation so village businesses do not suffer prolonged losses during construction. Anthony Guajardo of the Business Improvement Association asked to be part of any ad hoc economic impact planning.

During deliberations, council members emphasized the fiscal constraints facing the city and a desire for a staged, transparent process that would return clear decision points to the council and the community. Council member Westman moved that staff return as soon as possible with a proposed contract to evaluate multiple bridge replacement options, retrofit and deck‑replacement alternatives, lifecycle cost estimates, grant opportunities, construction timelines, environmental and permit requirements, and a plan to evaluate use of the Capitola trestle for pedestrian/bicycle access during construction. Vice Mayor Jensen seconded the motion. The motion passed 4–1 (Council member Orbach opposed).

The council did not authorize construction; it approved a work plan to develop the studies and preliminary designs that Caltrans and federal grant programs typically require to qualify for major funding. City staff noted that if the council abandons the process, the $500,000 grant to the city would have to be returned.

Next steps: staff will draft a contract for council review that specifies milestone reviews and community outreach points, the council said. Engineers recommended continuing tri‑monthly monitoring of the bridge while the planning and funding work proceeds.