Full Notification

The Canyon Road Bridge continues to be closed to all traffic. Please use alternate routes. The Town will continue to provide information and updates as they become available. Please visit the Canyon Road Bridge page on the Town of Moraga website (www.moraga.ca.us) for the latest information.

Engineers have installed additional inclinometers around the bridge to measure adjacent land movement and determine area and depth of the landslide. Additionally, the Town recently finalized an agreement with EBMUD to share inclinometer data to get a broader perspective of the movement in the area. Based on current information, the most viable option is to remove the existing bridge (still in the path of the slowly moving landslide) and construct a temporary 160’ one-lane, free-standing bridge to span over the landslide area. The temporary bridge will need 50 foot deep foundations on the west side of the Moraga Creek to protect the bridge against future land movement. The initial estimate for design, purchase, and installation of a temporary bridge is $2.6 million. The Town continues to research all options that will accomplish the goal, but at a lower cost. The Town has contacted other California jurisdictions to see if a long-span bridge that meets the length and alignment requirements is available to borrow, rent, or buy to reduce costs.

The Town has submitted requests for emergency funding to two sources: 1) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (administered through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)) and 2) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (administered through the California Office of Emergency Services). These applications are being evaluated to see if the Town qualifies for any emergency opening and repair funding grants. The Town’s application to Caltrans has been approved and has been forwarded to FHWA (funding source) for project scope approval. If FHWA approves the project scope then a field meeting will be scheduled to develop detailed scope and funding amount for the project. On a parallel track, staff is meeting with FEMA’s emergency disaster representatives to review the Town’s submitted funding application. The Town has also submitted an insurance claim that could partially fund the replacement if no other outside funding is received.

The bridge reopening timeline is yet to be determined, but could still take months to get all permits approved; stabilization work completed; the existing bridge demolished; and a temporary bridge purchased, delivered, and built. The Town will continue to keep the public informed with updates posted on the Town website and disseminated via Nixle, NextDoor and About Town. Thank you for your continued patience.