SANTA CRUZ, Calif - The La Fonda Bridge over Highway 1 will be demolished starting August 6th.
On August 6th and 7th , all Highway 1 southbound lanes and one northbound lane will be closed between midnight and 5:00 a.m. on both nights from the Morrissey to Soquel interchange to demolish the southbound side of the bridge.
The next week on August 13th and 14th, all Highway 1 northbound lanes and one southbound lane will be closed between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. on both nights from the Soquel and Morrissey interchanges to demolish the northbound half of bridge. During the night closure of the highway sections, traffic will be detoured on Morrissey and Soquel.
La Fonda Avenue over the highway will also be closed for 6-8 months.
The La Fonda Bridge demolition and reconstruction are part of the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project managed by Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). The RTC was able to secure competitive state funding to undertake this project located on one of the most heavily traveled sections of Highway 1 on the California Coast.
The RTC is working with both schools near the La Fonda bridge to encourage transportation options that minimize traffic and congestion in the area. DeLaveaga Elementary and Harbor High School families are encouraged to visit the following school-specific pages on the RTC's Commute Solutions website for information on travel options to school.
For Caltrans' live camera view from Morrissey Boulevard looking northbound, click on the ‘Highway 1 East of Morrissey' link on the RTC's Commute Solutions Traffic Conditions webpage: http://commutesolutions.org/get-around/drive/traffic/ . This page also links to Quickmap for real-time traffic conditions in our area.
Speeds on the highway through the project area are now reduced to 55 MPH, with traffic fines doubled in the construction zone. Alternate routes are limited. All are encouraged to drive safely, exercise caution in construction and school zones, and allow plenty of extra travel time.
For more information about the project, please visit the project webpage: http://sccrtc.org/projects/streets-highways/highway-1-aux-lanes/
