[UPDATE 2/27/20] Honeydew Bridge to Close Next Wednesday for Inspection
![Honeydew Bridge [Image from the County of Humboldt]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Document-5.jpg)
Honeydew Bridge [Image from the County of Humboldt]
Honeydew Bridge on Mattole Road will be closed on Wednesday March 4, 2020 for an inspection.
[Update 2/27/2020 4:40 p.m.] Humboldt County Public Works gives precise hours of the closure:
Honeydew Bridge on Mattole Road will be closed on Wednesday March 4, 2020 from 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm, for an inspection.
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Please leave our beloved bridge alone. I know it needs to be inspected but rumors say there are plans to make it all cement. This is truly a heart breaking idea. We live in a very rural setting with no real community parks. Last year our only little camp ground, literally the only place local families celebrate birthdays and memorials was just stripped away from us. Please help us keep our small community health and intact which is unique and rare. W/Love
The planning process has been going on for years. It’s going to happen–there will be a big new cement bridge there. There have been meetings about this project in the Valley, very lightly attended. Believe me, i love the old bridge. But the powers that be on this one are strong–safety precautions mandated by the state. If you can think of worthwhile “mitigations” to the destruction of the historic bridge, let the County know; but it’s pretty late in the game.
“Very lightly attended”, perhaps. But you and I and many others did attend and we expressed our clear preference for one of four alternative designs that definitely was NOT the “big, all- cement” options. Not too long ago, almost as an aside, a county Supervisor mentioned how nice the big, all-cement bridge will be. How did this shift, drift, disregard come about ? We’d best pull up our notes from those numerous meetings, and get ready to ‘fish or cut bait.’
i am devastated………this is an icon from my long ago past and a cherished part of my life.
We fought the bridge demolitions that were planned for several bridges on the Avenue of the Giants and won a partial victory. CALTRANS redesigned the proposed bridges and did a pretty good job. One is near The Chimney Tree, one over Elk Creek near Myers Flat, the other is north of Redcrest.
Take heart, organize. You may not be able to save the bridge, but you can possibly have some input and get something you can live with.
I agree Minnie but good luck the greedy bastards will never be satisfied..
It’s all about the money your roads are destroyed for the most part truly pathetic
The truth is its all about the money 💰 …
If it can be designated a historic structure that may save it from demolition? Don’t know what that process entails.
It is already officially historic. However, safety regulations override nostalgia. Mitigations include ideas for preserving its memory–displays of photos, the idea of a commemorative book, donation of parts of the metal structure for the grounds of the proposed MVHS museum in Petrolia (and maybe somewhere right in Honeydew, if a publicly-accessed spot were determined).
Maybe they can build the new bridge next to the historic one, like Bridgeville?
Good idea Zipline considering the condition of the road out there why would they even consider doing nothing more than maintaining the current bridge ??
A new modern cement bridge is in order. The new bridge can be made to look like the one out by Grizzly Creek State Park with fake stone sides, and maybe a earth colored cement could make it blend in better with the surrounding terrain. I like “expanding insignificance” comment that maybe they can build by the old bridge and leave it standing as is. Sure hope so!
“Safety concerns” regarding the bridge are a smokescreen. If Caltrans is so concerned about safety, fix the Panther Gap road and the Ettersburg road which lead to the bridge both of which are in a sorry state.
Have you been on that bridge when the rock trucks roll over it? No. The only place for a bridge is there. We’ve been pondering this for 10 yrs. So have the planners. Regardless of design, the bridge has to go there. It will take 2 years. With a summer bridge and a WHOLE LOT of geo tech driving piles all spring. BANG BANG BANG. 7:AM TILL 4: you can comment on that when we bitch about it. But till then, shut the fuck up about things you Know nothing about. Thank you.
CalTrans doesn’t fix rural county roads. State roads only.
Start a petition. I recall signing one for Fernbridge many years ago. And the bridge still stands.
WHAT TIME WILL IT BE CLOSED? Some people need to know how to get to and from work, or other places they need to go, on either sides of the bridge. Thank you
Yes, we need to know the hours, as that’s a Bookmobile day as well…and she drives home over the Bull Creek Road from the ‘Dew.
I also agree with Miles from Honeydew as we did vote on a bridge design similar to the existing one. We were told at the first meeting we attended that the old bridge cannot be repaired enough to keep as one of the 2 lanes.
As far as putting the new bridge next to the old one, I doubt that there’s enough room, as 2 lanes would take out the horseshoe pit and bump up next to the post office. If the old bridge was left in, they’d have to relocate the new one downriver a bit, and that would really impact store business.
Where is the Chump?
I thought it’d rise to the bait…
Guerneville built a new concrete bridge across the Russian River right next to the old narrow bridge similar to the one in Honeydew. This bridge was right in town with with very little room to fit. The old bridge is now a walking bridge and tourist attraction. Wohler Bridge is one lane very similar to the Honeydew Bridge with a lot more traffic on the Russian River also a tourist attraction and part of a park. Something like the Honedew Bridge is so unique it should be preserved. There are plenty of crossings to place a new bridge while keeping the old one and the character of our community.
Ok… but who is going to maintain the bridge? The County? Who is going to accept the liability if/when someone falls from the bridge like the 8-year old boy back in 1979 which cost the County millions?? All these things have been assessed and analyzed. There is no room for two bridges in that location… the Honeydew Store would have to be destroyed. I agree that it’s a beautiful bridge and it will be too bad when it’s gone… but the old bridge is one it’s last leg… the steel truss members have been hit several times and there are weight restrictions currently in place that are not policed. The bridge cannot take permit loads. A new bridge is needed for public safety and to meet current standards and loads.