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Mark your calendars, Ferndale! Caltrans officials are hosting a community meeting on Thursday, March 26 to discuss next steps for repairing — or possibly replacing — your beloved Fernbridge. 

The 115-year-old bridge, nicknamed the the “Queen of Bridges” by the engineers who built her, sustained major structural damage during the 6.4 magnitude earthquake and numerous aftershocks that struck the region in December 2022 and January 2023, prompting numerous short-term closures. Caltrans completed emergency repairs in March 2023 to keep Route 211 open to two-way traffic, but a long-term solution is sorely needed.

Caltrans engineers have come up with several potential solutions to either rehabilitate Fernbridge or build a brand-new bridge. Some alternatives include demolition, which seems to be the least favorable option, according to LoCO Pollz. Let’s take a look at what Caltrans is proposing…

Alternative 1: Rehabilitate the existing bridge at its current width for all traffic. This approach would keep Fernbridge’s iconic arches and superstructure (everything above the bridge bearings) intact, though new railing may be considered in the new design.

Alternative 2: Rehabilitate and widen the existing bridge for all traffic. This alternative would widen each lane from 11.3 feet to 12 feet and add eight-foot shoulders to the bridge. “This option would attempt to preserve the architectural appearance and identity of the structure as much as possible,” as stated in the Notice of Preparation.

Under both alternatives, a temporary bridge would be constructed to accommodate traffic in and out of Ferndale. These alternatives would also require the use of both upstream and downstream trestles during construction, as seen in the figure above.

Alternative 3: Construct a new bridge on a new alignment and rehabilitate Fernbridge for non-motorized use. A new bridge would be built upstream from the existing bridge. The new bridge would have 12-foot lanes, eight-foot shoulders and a pedestrian/bicycle path. This option would not require a detour bridge as Fernbridge would remain open to traffic during construction. 

Alternative 4: Construct a new bridge on a new alignment and rehabilitate Fernbridge for non-motorized use with a modified superstructure. Unlike Alternative 3, this option would replace the superstructure of Fernbridge with a “lighter-weight steel structure or equivalent,” but the bridge would remain intact for non-motorized use.

Under both alternatives, temporary trestles would be built to accommodate construction.

Alternative 5: Construct a new bridge and demolish Fernbridge. The new bridge would have the same dimensions as the last two alternatives, but this option would include “arching design elements reminiscent of Fernbridge” to make up for the loss of the Queen. Again, a detour bridge wouldn’t be necessary in this case because Fernbridge would carry traffic, but an in-water trestle would be built for construction and demolition.

Alternative 6: Construct a new bridge on a new alignment and maintain Fernbridge as a monument. This option is almost exactly the same as Alternative 3, but the existing bridge would not be modified for non-motorized use. 

Alternative 7: Construct a new bridge on the existing alignment of Fernbridge. Under this option, a temporary bridge would be built ahead of demolition. The new bridge would be built in the footprint of Fernbridge with the same design standards mentioned in previous alternatives. Temporary in-water trestles would be built to accommodate construction. 

Alternative 8: No build alternative. Do nothing!

Caltrans engineers will go over the pros and cons of each alternative at the March 26 meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Ferndale City Hall – 834 Main Street in Ferndale. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions and share their two cents on the proposals.

Those interested can submit a formal comment on the Notice of Preparation at this link. The public scoping period ends April 17. More information on the Ferndale Access Project can be found here. 

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