Governor Brown’s State Budget plan also closes most of the funding gap for the Bridgeport Bridge restoration project. The original cost estimate, in 2014, was $1.3 million. But it tripled to $3.9 million, after a more extensive assessment was conducted on the scope of work. The governor has allocated $3.2 million. It culminates efforts by the Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee, Nevada County Supervisor Hank Weston, and the South Yuba River Citizens League. SYRCL Executive Director Caleb Dardick credits a united effort…

click to listen to Caleb Dardick

The project would reopen the bridge to pedestrian traffic but not to vehicular traffic. It’s been closed to vehicular traffic since 1972. Dardick says there has also been some important work recently that’s ended up being very timely…

click to listen to Caleb Dardick

Efforts to move up the construction timetable have not been successful. There’s no word yet on when work would begin, nor whether the remaining differnce between the cost estimate and the allocation could keep the project from starting.