Donner Pass Road
at Castle Creek
Overview
The Donner Pass Road Bridge over Castle Creek (Bridge No. 17c0051) carries two-way traffic on the existing two-lane bridge that is barely noticeable from a traveling vehicle. The bridge has sufficient width that there are full shoulders on the roadway and no real indication of the creek below that is disguised in the surrounding vegetation. The bridge is located about a half mile east of Soda Springs Road. Castle Creek is also known by some as Soda Springs Creek.
The bridge requires occasional rehabilitation efforts due to ongoing corrosion in the bridge deck and the girders. The bridge deck is covered by 3 to 5 feet of roadway embankment, aggregate base and asphalt pavement.
The County applied for Highway Bridge Program (HBP) funding to rehabilitate the bridge in 2017 and the funding has now come available to start the engineering. The first step will be to evaluate the condition of the bridge deck and girders and determine the extent of foundations under the abutments.
Bridge History
The existing bridge was constructed in 1924 with 5 reinforced concrete girders. It is a single span bridge, 30 feet in length. It was widened with two additional girders on each side in 1937 as part of State Route 40, prior to the presence of Interstate 80. After construction of the I-80, Donner Pass Road (and this bridge) was relinquished to the County. The single span bridge is supported on concrete abutments located within the limits of Castle Creek.
The girders received rehabilitation by the County Public Works staff in 2016 for spalling and corrosion of the bar reinforcement. Donner Pass Road was resurfaced in 2022 with guard railing added to embankment over the bridge and the bridge approaches.
This bridge is listed in Caltrans Bridge Inventory as not eligible for National Historic Places designation.
Scope of Project - Bridge Replacement
The following items will be addressed as part of this project:
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Rehabilitate the reinforced concrete bridge deck
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Rehabilitate the reinforced concrete girders
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Extend the life of the bridge to 2055 or consider replacing it
Schedule/Status of Project
Winter 2025/26
Summer 2026
Summer 2026
Summer 2026
Fall 2026
Winter 2026
Spring 2027
Request Proposals for Rehabilitation
Investigate remaining life of the slab and girders
Investigate the hydraulic capacity
Investigate the size and depth of the footings
Prepare Feasibility Study (rehabilitation vs replacement)
Caltrans HBP concurrence with Feasibility Study
Begin Environmental Studies