Caltrans Meeting to Weigh Future of 115-Year-Old Fernbridge

Caltrans District 1 will bring several long-term options for Fernbridge to the public on Thursday, March 26, asking Ferndale residents to weigh in on whether the 115-year-old concrete arch span should be rehabilitated, replaced, or something in between.

The bridge, which carries State Route 211 across the Eel River into Ferndale, was nicknamed the "Queen of Bridges" by the engineers who built her. That title has been tested hard in recent years. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the region in December 2022, followed by numerous aftershocks into January 2023, left Fernbridge with major structural damage and forced repeated short-term closures. Caltrans completed emergency repairs in March 2023 to keep Route 211 open to two-way traffic, but those fixes were never meant to be permanent.

Caltrans engineers have since developed several potential solutions, ranging from rehabilitation to full replacement. One of the more detailed options on the table is Alternative 4, which would construct an entirely new bridge on a new alignment while converting Fernbridge itself to non-motorized use with a modified superstructure. Unlike Alternative 3, which leaves Fernbridge's superstructure intact, Alternative 4 would replace it with a "lighter-weight steel structure or equivalent," while keeping the historic span standing for pedestrians and cyclists. Under both alternatives, temporary trestles would be built to accommodate construction traffic.

Demolition is also listed among the options Caltrans is presenting, though it appears to be the least popular choice among readers following the story. A LoCO Pollz survey found demolition ranking at the bottom of community preferences.

The March 26 meeting will be Caltrans District 1's first structured opportunity to gather public input on which direction to pursue. Exact details on time and venue had not been confirmed as of this report, and the agency has not yet released cost estimates, construction timelines, or environmental review status for any of the alternatives. Residents planning to attend should check directly with Caltrans District 1 for logistics before the meeting date.