Merced Pavement Anchor Project

The Merced Pavement Anchor Project, identified by Permit No. 19853, involves the removal and replacement of the structurally deficient Mariposa Creek/Duck Slough Bridge (Bridge No. 39-0063) located on State Route 59 in Merced County, California. Situated approximately 4.3 miles south of the City of Merced, the project is led by Caltrans District 10 and overseen by the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. The scope of work includes the construction of a new 100-foot-long by 44-foot-wide single-span bridge featuring two 12-foot travel lanes, two 8-foot shoulders, and concrete guardrails. The new structure will consist of a concrete superstructure with concrete pile-supported abutments. To ensure long-term stability, the project includes the placement of rock slope protection at the abutments and banks for erosion control and scour protection, as well as necessary temporary works such as channel dewatering, falsework, and shoring. The project was approved under the California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Article 3, Section 6, following a Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared by the lead agency. The Central Valley Flood Protection Board determined that the project will not have significant environmental effects within its jurisdiction and has not imposed additional mitigation measures or monitoring plans. Related infrastructure work for this site includes the relocation of approximately 2,100 feet of 70 kV power line aerial crossings over Mariposa Creek to accommodate the bridge replacement. The administrative record for these determinations is available for public review, and the project was officially approved by the Board on September 26, 2025.