The Mulholland Bridge Project in Los Angeles County

Mulholland Bridge Project US Bridge

In 2018, the Woolsey fire decimated the Santa Monica Mountains. In its destruction, the fire burnt down the Mulholland Highway bridge located within the mountains. U.S. Bridge partnered with Los Angeles County to rebuild the Mulholland Bridge to reconnect the community with a two-lane bridge.

The Woolsey Fire

In November 2018, a fire ignited in the Los Angeles and Ventura counties that lasted three days. The Woolsey fire spanned almost 97,000 acres and among the various buildings that were burned, the Mulholland Highway bridge was also destroyed.

Nearby towns came to a standstill after the destruction of the bridge. The devastation affected commerce, traffic, and people’s morals. The county believes that a new bridge will reunite the region and get the community to return to normal after the major disaster.

A Plan for a New Bridge

The county erected a one-lane temporary bridge while they completed the construction of the replacement bridge. Soon, construction on a new permanent bridge began.

Mark Pestrella, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, stated that the goal of the new bridge construction from U.S. Bridge is to not only restore stability within the community but to also reduce commute times for residents. Additionally, the new bridge should provide a safe exit should another emergency arise. That’s why the county entrusted U.S. Bridge to engineer, manufacture, and construct the new Mulholland Highway bridge.

 

Building the Mulholland Bridge

The Mulholland Bridge is a two-lane steel truss bridge that was manufactured in just eight weeks, with the help of Granite Construction and Bragg Crane and Rigging.  The bridge spans 140-feet with a width of 34-feet and one 5-foot sidewalk for pedestrians. This is a galvanized structure that received two coats of paint on top of the galvanizing for added aesthetics.

Construction began in January 2020, and we are proud to say that while maintaining safety regulations, construction was completed smoothly despite local restrictions due to COVID-19. We work endlessly to ensure the safety of our crew while also exceeding the bridge owner’s expectations.

Heading? Save Time Save Money?

Whenever applicable, we advise clients to skip the temporary bridge and go straight to building the permanent bridge. This is because oftentimes a permanent bridge can be delivered in a short period of time. In some cases, a permanent structure is built in a similar time span it takes to erect a temporary bridge. Thus, bridge owners will save time and money.

A temporary bridge can cost between $1-2 million, all funded by the Federal Highway Administration and local gas tax dollars. Due to this cost, constructing a bridge structure permanently just once, rather than twice, allows local governments to apply public funds to other essential areas of transportation.

Nobody likes doing things twice. Save money and time, and forgo the temporary bridge to move straight into permanent bridge construction by partnering with an experienced bridge builder.

Build Bridges and Trust with US Bridge

We are glad to be a part of this restoration in Los Angeles county by building a bridge that connects the community for decades to come. We worked together with other companies such as Granite Construction, Bragg Crane & Rigging, and Los Angeles County to complete this project. With our professional collaboration and expertise, this project became a great success and a proud moment for our team.

To learn more about why we’re the leader in steel bridge construction, get in touch with us. We’re glad to answer any questions about your bridge construction project.