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Murray Bridge likely closed after heavy equipment breaches load limit, county says
Summary
County staff reported extensive structural damage to the 1905-built Murray Bridge after a May 5 incident in which equipment exceeding the 3-ton limit crossed the span. Engineers will inspect the bridge; police are investigating, and the closure creates a 12-mile detour for emergency vehicles.
County staff told the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors that the 16-foot-wide Murray Bridge suffered significant structural damage after a vehicle or piece of equipment heavier and wider than the posted three-ton limit crossed it on May 5.
“Someone drove through the 16 foot wide Murray bridge with a piece of equipment that was definitely heavier than the three-ton load limit and wider than the 16 ft,” said Ben, a county staff member who presented the update. He said multiple chords on both the northwest and southeast sides of the bridge were twisted or bent and that structural engineers are scheduled to perform a detailed assessment.
Ben said the bridge has been physically closed by dumping rock on both ends and placing barricades, and that, while the deck may be safe to walk on for inspections, some railings are bent and hanging into the river. County staff plan to cut away portions of railing that threaten to snag debris. Law enforcement has been notified and is investigating; staff said the investigation remains active and they could not provide additional details.
The county noted immediate practical impacts: emergency responders now face roughly a 12-mile detour when responding to some north–south calls, which could lengthen ambulance and fire response times for residents who previously relied on the crossing. The bridge was built in 1905 and had been considered historically eligible; staff said the bridge’s future on any historic register could be affected by the damage but that an inspection report is pending.
County officials said they do not expect the bridge to reopen soon and cautioned that the extent of repairs, insurance coverage, and any timeline for replacement or major rehabilitation will depend on the structural-engineer findings and results of the ongoing police inquiry. The county plans to evaluate grant options tied to a new bridge; results of a grant application submitted earlier this year are expected by the end of June.
