Environmental process kicks off for I St. Bridge replacement

Meeting planned to help determine public’s perspective on I Street Bridge Replacement Project

The cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento are inviting the public to weigh in on what environmental issues should be considered in the I Street Bridge Replacement Project. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Stanford Gallery, 111 I Street.  The public is invited to comment on what should be addressed in the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment being prepared for the project. The public is also invited to participate in a one-mile walking tour of the project area at 5:30 pm.

The 100-year-old I Street Bridge provides a critical connection between Sacramento and West Sacramento, but traffic lanes are too narrow to serve buses, there are no bicycle lanes, and sidewalks are too narrow to meet accessibility standards.  Earlier this year, the cities began the process of planning to construct a new bridge upstream of the existing I Street Bridge.  The project is in the environmental and preliminary design phase, which will extend to 2016.

A new bridge will provide better access for bicyclists and pedestrians and will serve motorists more efficiently.  The existing I Street Bridge will remain in place for the commuter and freight trains that travel the bridge daily. All other modes of transportation will be shifted to the new bridge.

The meeting will include various maps and information about the I Street Bridge Replacement Project.  City staff and members of the project team will be available to answer questions and discuss ideas in an informal format.  The public is encouraged to drop by at their convenience between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.  A walking tour to view the bridge location will begin at 5:30 pm.  The tour will feature project area highlights and will be approximately one mile.

Questions about the scoping meeting and the project can be directed to the project manager, Jesse Gothan, with the City of Sacramento, at: JGothan@cityofsacramento.org (916)808-6897 or Mike Luken with the City of West Sacramento at mikel@cityofwestsacramento.org  (916)617-4881.