The slough bridge going southbound. Photo by Ryan Burns.


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Swarms of people and machinery have taken over the southbound Eureka Slough Bridge since Caltrans started emergency repair work on its foundation in June, and the price of keeping it safe to use is climbing. 

Between construction, support, and other expenses, Caltrans has already spent about $23 million, spokesman Myles Cochrane wrote to the Outpost in a statement yesterday, and they’re unable to estimate how much more funding it’ll take. Caltrans can continue to use the “access trestle” it constructed to work on the bridge, and the timeline to finish the project could “expand” if more “needs” are found. [Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Caltrans may decide to work on the slough bridge’s trestle, not continue to use the one it constructed.] 

“Because that investigation is ongoing,” he wrote, “We’re not yet able to provide a reliable estimate for the total scope, cost or schedule of the emergency work.”

The currently closed section of the Eureka Waterfront Trail will remain off-limits for an indefinite amount of time as well, and boaters will be restricted to five miles per hour near the site.