Cost to span oft-flooded crossing put at $2 million
By Jesse Phelps

After many years of planning and grant seeking, Supervisor Steve Bennett's office has announced that work has commenced on design of a new bridge to replace the fair-weather crossing on Old Creek Road, which is impassable in moderate or larger storms.

This project will provide year-round access to the approximately 20 homes along Old Creek Road and allow residents to reach their homes without either risking a crossing of the creek or being stranded in their homes during storms. The Tres Conados Girl Scout Camp, the only outlet for many years, will no longer need to be used as emergency access.

"There were serious conflicts between the residents and the girl scouts because the only exit was through the Girl Scout property," said Bennett. "The Girl Scouts were very unhappy with having residents cut across. And the residents had to pay to use the property, or the gate would be locked, creating more difficulties."

Additionally, the crossing of San Antonio Creek has been identified as an impediment to passage of the endangered steelhead trout, and its removal will contribute to efforts to restore steelhead populations in the Ventura River watershed and restore natural creek habitat.

"There are a number of places in the creek, particularly when you build these crossings for automobiles, that are not a steelhead-friendly passages," Bennett explained. "By creating the bridge, you no longer have to have this concrete roadway in the middle of the creek."

The project cost is estimated at approximately $2 million, as the bridge will need to be built to federal design standards, which provide for safe crossing during a 100-year storm. 80 percent of project funding has been secured through the United States and California Departments of Transportation. Matching funds have been secured through the state fisheries restoration program to complete the design phase, and an application is pending for the remaining funds needed to complete construction.

Bennett said that taxpayers will not have to foot any part of the bill. "It will all be paid for by the federal and state grants. It's a great win-win. The residents win, the Girl Scouts win and the county budget wins."

Bennett said that county government has studied the replacement of this creek crossing for many years: "I'm very pleased to have this project begin, and not only will Old Creek residents and the Girl Scouts benefit, but it will play a significant role in our habitat restoration efforts along the Ventura River and San Antonio Creek."

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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