Historic bridge deemed ‘structurally deficient’ by Caltrans, considered fundamental to community history

By Skyler Wilder | SDUN Reporter

Since 1914, the Georgia Street Bridge, which passes over University Avenue, has served the North Park and Hillcrest communities as a piece of iconic architecture dedicated to creating a beautiful city.

Currently, this landmark bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is being examined for rehabilitation or replacement.

The Georgia Street Bridge is made from steel-reinforced concrete, but the concrete is crumbling off and the bridge was labeled “structurally deficient” in 2010 when Caltrans ran seismic tests on a number of bridges throughout San Diego County, including the Georgia Street Bridge.

Under federal guidelines, bridges are considered structurally deficient if one of four key components is given a condition rating of less than five on a scale of zero to nine, meaning engineers have identified a major defect in its support structure or its deck. If a bridge is rated structurally deficient, the bridge requires significant maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement.

The Transportation and Storm Water Department confirmed the Bridge’s Deck received a rating of three. Two other components received a rating of five.

According to the City of San Diego’s Engineering and Capitol Projects Department, a Seismic Strategy report will be finalized in April and the results will dictate the type of renovation needed for the Georgia Street Bridge. After the report is issued, five proposals will be reviewed – two for rehabilitation and three for replacement – to determine how the Bridge will be renovated.

However, community members have expressed concern with the notion of replacing the bridge. Both a special interest group and City Councilmember have praised the Georgia Street Bridge and want to preserve its structural integrity and historical value.

“[The Georgia Street Bridge] is the reason North Park was able to develop,” said Katherine Hon, secretary of the North Park Historical Society. The Historical Society’s logo is the Georgia Street Bridge. Hon said she hopes “preservation will prevail.”
District 3 Councilmember Todd Gloria said, “I fully support efforts and have worked aggressively to ensure the safety of the Georgia Street Bridge while preserving its status as a landmark for local neighborhoods.”

The current working budget for the Georgia Street Bridge project is divided between local and federal funds, with local government providing 20 percent and federal government providing 80 percent of the necessary funding. The working total funds are $1,393,447, the City’s Public Works and Engineering and Capitol Projects Departments confirmed.

Sidebar:

The following are the alternatives being studied

Rehabilitation Alternative 1 – Retrofit of the existing bridge with improvements to include:
Widening Georgia Street;
Lowering the vertical alignment of University Avenue;
Stabilizing the existing retaining walls on University Avenue; and
Requesting design exceptions from Caltrans for the bridge load rating.

Rehabilitation Alternative 2 – Retrofit of the existing bridge with improvements to include:
Request design exemption for width of bridge;
Lowering the vertical alignment of University Avenue;
Stabilizing the existing retaining walls on University Avenue; and
Requesting design exceptions from Caltrans for the bridge load rating.

Replacement alternatives will require the removal of a majority of the concrete that makes up the bridge structure and the replacement/installation of a significant amount of new reinforcement steel.

Replacement Alternative 1 – Replacement of the existing bridge will include the following improvements:
Construct conventional precast Girder Bridge;
Stabilize existing retaining walls.

Replacement Alternative 2 – Replacement of the existing bridge will include the following improvements:
Remove existing bridge;
Construct in-kind arch bridge;
Lower University Avenue
Stabilize existing retaining walls.

Replacement Alternative 3 – Replacement of the existing bridge will include the following improvements:
Remove existing bridge;
Construct modified arch bridge;
Stabilize existing retaining walls.

No determination has been made as to the recommended alternatives. The recommended alternatives will be selected at the completion of the rehabilitation study, which is expected in April.