Rain in Carpinteria!

We finally got some rain at the Pinkham project site. Over the last few days three separate pulses came through dropping roughly 3 inches of much needed rain. More may be on its way. Here are a few photos of flow running under the bridge and through the project site from this morning.

Project Update - 8

This week the contractor worked to relocate the property owner's waterline under the new bridge and to regrade the road approaches to be ready for paving. The California Conservation Corp was out on Tuesday and Thursday to install erosion control material and install 140 native plants. The paving of the driveway was completed on Tuesday afternoon. The bridge railings are currently being built and nearly complete.

The California Conservation Corp (CCC) works to install erosion control blanket on the bare creek banks. The erosion control blankets are composed of coconut fibers and are 100% bio degradable.

The CCC also helped to install native riparian trees and understory plants at the site. Native plants for the project were grown by Santa Barbra Natives and Estero Natives from local seed stock and cuttings.

A photo of the newly paved driveway. The property owner now has access across the new bridge to his property.

The CCC crew also helped to install a drip irrigation system. The bridge railings are nearly complete and the contractor plans to be finished over the next few days. We will work with the property owner to monitor the project site and our native re-vegetation efforts over the next few years. Check back for updates and photographs as the native re-vegeation efforts take root and fill in the project site over time.

At the end of the day on Thursday we got some much needed rain and a rainbow! 

Project Update - 7

The bridge is in! The Pinkham project is nearing completion. The stream channel and rock slope protection work was finished last week. The bridge arrived on Thursday of this week and was installed today. The crane arrived early this morning to set up and the bridge was installed before noon. Next week the contractor will work to grade and pave the road approach up to the bridge. The railings will also be built and installed. The following week the CCC will be out to install erosion control material and native trees and shrubs to re-vegetate the site.

The completed stream channel waiting for the bridge to arrive. 

Specialty crane setting up the counter weight to the bridge. 

The new bridge getting set in place. 

Project Update - 6

The Pinkham project is on track to finish up over the next few weeks. The back filling around the abutments was completed this week and the contractor worked to finish the channel and rock placement around the abutments. A California Conservation Corps crew was out to drill and anchor the log structures with threaded rod. Willow poles were placed throughout the rock lined channel. Poles that were placed a few weeks ago are already sprouting.

Shaw Contracting working to place rock around the abutments and build up the new stream channel.

The California Conservation Corps working to apply epoxy to secure and anchor the large woody debris structures.

Willow poles that were installed a few weeks ago are already sprouting. 

The project is on schedule for the bridge delivery during the first week of December. Check back next week for more updates. 

Project Update - 5

This week the wood forming around the abutments was removed. Once the concrete had set and reached the correct strength the contractor began back filling behind the abutments. This will continue into early next week. The California Conservation Corps will be out next week to help bolt and secure the log structures. The contractor will finish up the stream channel and begin placing the rock slope protection around the abutments.

The contractor beginning to fill in behind the southern abutment (far abutment).  The fill material is compacted and inspected in lifts.










By the end of the week the contractor was nearly finished filling in behind the south abutment.

Check back next week for more updates.

Project Update - 4

This week Shaw contracting continued to work on forming the abutments at the Pinkham project site. The concrete for the abutment wingwalls was poured today. The concrete will cure for a few days after which the wood forms will be stripped. By the end of next week the contractor should begin filling in behind the abutments with compacted soil.

The contractor working to shape and tie together the inner reinforcement structure of the abutments.

The abutments take shape as the last pieces of  wood forming go up around the rebar.











Check back next week to see the finished abutments.

Project Update - 3

This week the construction of the lower and upper portions of the creek channel was completed. The middle section of the channel is being used to access both sides of the creek and will be completed once the abutments have been back filled. The forming of the concrete footing is complete and the first concrete pour was done on Wednesday. Forming of the upper wingwall structure will continue into next week, with the final concrete pouring taking place at the end of next week.

Overview photo of the project site shows the completed downstream section of the stream channel and the access road that is needed through the middle of the creek. The abutments are fully formed in this photo and ready for the first pour of concrete.

Willow poles and other tree stakes were placed in to the toe of the stream channel as excavation occurred for the large rock key ways. These poles will re-vegetate the site and further help to stabilize the stream banks through this section.

The completed abutment footings after the first concrete pour.

The wood framing was striped off the footings on Thursday and forming of the upper wingwalls began today.

Check back next week for photos of the completed bridge abutments.