Rawhide Road Bridge Project Developments

Sonora, CA– The Tuolumne County supervisors approved Tuesday an option for replacing the Rawhide Road Bridge over Woods Creek.

The first option was to decide not to continue with the project. That option would run the risk that all federal funds expended on the project would need to be repaid to the Federal Highway Administration. The historic traffic issues caused by a one lane bridge on Rawhide Road would not be improved.

Option 2 would be to pursue a different project which would avoid having to prepare the environmental document for the Highway 49/108 widening. One downside to this option is that it would not address the long range need to replace the Rawhide Road Bridge and the widening of Highway 49/108.

The third option would be to continue with both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the project to meet the conditions and legal requirements of the cooperative agreement, complete the required environmental documents, design the bridge and prepare the final plans.

The fourth option would be to reduce the scope of the project to Stage 1 to replace the Rawhide Road Bridge. Selection of this option will allow the County to complete the required environmental documents, design the bridge and prepare the final plans. If this option is selected, the board would have to approve an increase in the contract with Quincy Engineering from $631,000 to $1,331,277 to update the studies that were previously prepared and to complete the engineering. The $1.3 million project is funded through the federal Highway Bridge Program and local match through county road funds.

The supervisors unanimously approved Option 4 and to look further into trying to reduce costs even more.