City Seeking Public’s Input on Holly Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Rehabilitation Project

The City, in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has unveiled plans to rehabilitate and seismically retrofit the Holly Street Bridge.

The bridge is a crucial infrastructure spanning the Arroyo Seco Channel and North Arroyo Boulevard.

The Holly Street Bridge, constructed in 1925, is a 45.3-foot-wide by 400-foot-long concrete arch-deck that spans the Arroyo Seco and North Arroyo Boulevard.

The bridge currently holds a sufficiency rating of 39.4, classifying it as structurally deficient, according to the Caltrans Bridge Inspection Report from 2020.

The proposed project addresses the bridge’s deficiencies through comprehensive rehabilitation and seismic upgrades. Key elements of the project include deck rehabilitation, concrete barrier repairs, joint rehabilitation, spandrel column retrofits, concrete spall repairs, and a bonded grout treatment. Construction is expected to require several months, during which the bridge will be closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The city will implement a detour route via Linda Vista Avenue, San Rafael Avenue, Colorado Boulevard, and Orange Grove Boulevard to accommodate affected residents.

In compliance with environmental regulations, the city prepared an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration, which concluded that the project could potentially have significant environmental effects.

However, with the inclusion of mitigation measures, these impacts are expected to be reduced to a less than significant level.

The Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was previously circulated for public comment from July 17, 2019, to August 15, 2019, and a public workshop was held on July 31, 2019. The Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, reflecting updated project details, will not require recirculation under CEQA guidelines.

The project area is not listed as a hazardous waste facility or disposal site, according to the Hazardous Waste and Substances Statement required under Government Code, Section 65962.5(f).

To ensure continued public engagement, Pasadena is offering an additional review period for the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. Written comments will be accepted until Sept. 11. Comments can be submitted to Roya Falahati, Engineer, at 100 North Garfield Avenue, N306, Pasadena, CA 91101, or via email at rfalahati@cityofpasadena.net.

The document is available on the city’s environmental notices webpage and at the City of Pasadena Public Works Division and the Linda Vista Branch Library.

The Pasadena City Council will review the project and public comments before deciding whether to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and proceed to the final design phase. The decision will be made at a future City Council Public Hearing.