Bridge to Woodward Island

[mark poulson]

Does anyone know who built the multi million dollar bridge at the end of Bacon Island Road that crosses over to Woodward Island?

[cdrake]

It's my understanding that just like most of the bridges out there, that it was a partnership between the owners on the two islands.

[mark poulson]

It's my understanding that just like most of the bridges out there, that it was a partnership between the owners on the two islands.

What in the world is there on Woodward Island to truck that's that valuable?
Unless they're going to store Tunnel dirt there.

[MichaelB]

Unless they're going to store Tunnel dirt there.

Actually Mark you may not be far from the answer ..... The two tunnel/one tunnel path has always ran North/South straight thru the middle of Woodward Island. Could very well be that seemingly useless Bridge is there as infrastructure to support "future" Tunnel construction.

[El Jefe]

Woodward is owned by 3 or four different farming families..... ALL of Bacon Island is owned by Southern California Metro Water Dist.

[monte300]

Woodward is owned by 3 or four different farming families..... ALL of Bacon Island is owned by Southern California Metro Water Dist.

That explains a lot

[Old dog]

The bridge was built to replace the ferry because the water district, that owns the two very large water pipes that cross the island, felt the ferry was not big enough to get the repair equipment & materials across the canal in a timely fashion if the pipes were damaged.

[mark poulson]

The bridge was built to replace the ferry because the water district, that owns the two very large water pipes that cross the island, felt the ferry was not big enough to get the repair equipment & materials across the canal in a timely fashion if the pipes were damaged.

So who paid for it? Which water district?

[Bassphish]

The bridge was built to replace the ferry because the water district, that owns the two very large water pipes that cross the island, felt the ferry was not big enough to get the repair equipment & materials across the canal in a timely fashion if the pipes were damaged.

Which water district?

EBMUD Mark. pretty much explained it when I googled “who owns Woodward Island”.

From “Building the Bridge to Knowhere (aka Woodward Island)” Per Save the California Delta Alliance “There is another reason that there may have been urgency for this bridge to be built that is not to aid the tunnels but because of the tunnels. EBMUD has been contesting the Delta Tunnels project because the tunnels runs directly under Woodward Island. EBMUD believes the tunnel drilling through soft alluvial soils will cause settling that will affect their pipeline and they want the WaterFix project to pay for pumps on both sides to ensure the EBMUD water can keep flowing. So they would need that bridge to get the pumps in stalled and any emergency crews to the island if the tunneling causes havoc.

That brings up the other huge issues with the tunneling plan. Not only does it cause EBMUD issues, the Kinder Morgan fuel pipeline also crosses Woodward Island, and the bridge will help for any emergencies there.

Speaking of emergencies, an even bigger concern is that the Sante Fe Railroad is on pilings between two sloughs just north of Woodward Island. Tunneling activities has been known to twist railroad piers which would be disastrous if it caused issues with that line. It is a heavily used freight and Amtrak line.”

[mark poulson]

The bridge was built to replace the ferry because the water district, that owns the two very large water pipes that cross the island, felt the ferry was not big enough to get the repair equipment & materials across the canal in a timely fashion if the pipes were damaged.

Which water district?

EBMUD Mark. pretty much explained it when I googled “who owns Woodward Island”.

From “Building the Bridge to Knowhere (aka Woodward Island)” Per Save the California Delta Alliance “There is another reason that there may have been urgency for this bridge to be built that is not to aid the tunnels but because of the tunnels. EBMUD has been contesting the Delta Tunnels project because the tunnels runs directly under Woodward Island. EBMUD believes the tunnel drilling through soft alluvial soils will cause settling that will affect their pipeline and they want the WaterFix project to pay for pumps on both sides to ensure the EBMUD water can keep flowing. So they would need that bridge to get the pumps in stalled and any emergency crews to the island if the tunneling causes havoc.

That brings up the other huge issues with the tunneling plan. Not only does it cause EBMUD issues, the Kinder Morgan fuel pipeline also crosses Woodward Island, and the bridge will help for any emergencies there.

Speaking of emergencies, an even bigger concern is that the Sante Fe Railroad is on pilings between two sloughs just north of Woodward Island. Tunneling activities has been known to twist railroad piers which would be disastrous if it caused issues with that line. It is a heavily used freight and Amtrak line.”

They are proceeding as if the tunnels are a done deal. Something stinks.

[Old dog]

Trust me I don’t trust anyone but this bridge has been planned for almost 8 years. Now if bridges of this size start popping up everywhere the concern will be reel.

[Bassphish]

Trust me I don’t trust anyone but this bridge has been planned for almost 8 years. Now if bridges of this size start popping up everywhere the concern will be reel.

You are probably right about when the Woodward bridge was planned, which would coincide with the plans for the tunnels. To think EBMUD would to wait around to see what happens with the tunnels and at the last minute protect their interests is unrealistic. As for other bridges....

[WB Staff]

More info: https://sjcognewsroom.wordpress.com/201 ... ew-bridge/

[mark poulson]

pages-from-is-mnd_2016-01-20-web-3_page_1.png

More info: https://sjcognewsroom.wordpress.com/201 ... ew-bridge/

Thanks for the map and article.
A cynical person would think the fix was in even back then for the Tunnels. Or maybe that's being a realist.