Bridge Closure Alert: Modesto's Old 7th Street Bridge to Be Replaced

Construction of the new Seventh Street Bridge over the Tuolumne River is finally set to begin in January, marking a long-awaited milestone for the community. The final step in this process was the approval of an $85.2 million contract by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, which was unanimously approved on Tuesday night. This contract has been awarded to MCM Construction Inc., based in North Highlands, Sacramento County.

According to an email from David Leamon, the public works director for the county, the project is expected to be completed by late 2027 or early 2028. However, before construction can start, the current bridge will need to be closed in early spring to make way for the new structure. During this time, drivers will have to take short detours through the Ninth Street and Highway 99 bridges over the Tuolumne River.

The existing bridge, built in 1916 in the ornate Beaux Arts style, has had speed and weight restrictions since the 1930s due to faulty concrete. These limitations have made it unsuitable for heavy vehicles such as semi-trucks, which are essential for the area’s food and drink processing industries. The new bridge will help alleviate some of this traffic from the freeway and Ninth Street, while also offering a smoother connection to Crows Landing Road, which currently features a Y-shaped junction.

At the north end of the bridge, the city of Modesto will upgrade the intersection with B Street and Tuolumne Boulevard, including improvements to the railroad crossing. While the original bridge had sidewalks, they were too narrow to accommodate wheelchairs. The new design will include a compliant sidewalk on the east side and a fully protected bike lane on the west. These features will connect to a new plaza that overlooks part of the seven-mile river park. The master plan for the park includes a large gathering space accessible via paths that extend into downtown.

The original bridge was known for its pair of concrete lion statues at each end, which history enthusiasts wanted to preserve. Two of these statues will be restored and placed in the new plaza, while the others will be stored at the county public works office on Morgan Road until their future is determined. The plaza will also feature an exhibit highlighting the original bridge’s “cantilevered concrete” design, which deteriorated faster than anticipated, leading to the speed and weight limits that have been in place for decades. No vehicle is allowed to travel faster than 25 miles per hour or weigh more than four tons on the current bridge.

The new bridge will span 1,238 feet across the main channel of the Tuolumne River and its floodplain. It will be constructed using concrete box girders resting on seven footings—half the number of the current structure. The design was created by Biggs Cardosa Associates. In addition to the main construction costs, the project includes $7.2 million for construction management by Dewberry Engineers Inc., which was approved by the county board last month. This firm will oversee the work as it progresses, including inspections of concrete pours.

The total cost of the project is approximately $127 million, covering design, right of way, and street improvements at both ends of the bridge. A federal grant provided about $92 million of this funding, with an additional $15 million from the state in June. Most of the remaining amount has been covered by the county’s Measure L sales tax. The new bridge will double the motor-vehicle lanes to four, making it a significant improvement in terms of capacity and safety for the community.