Two years later and untold millions over budget … Caltrans contractors on Thursday poured the final concrete deck surfacing for the first half of the Trancas Creek bridge.

This paved the way for traffic to be shifted over in a few weeks onto the new deck.  That will allow the 95-year-old southern half of the bridge to be demolished this summer… if all goes to schedule.

So far … nothing has gone to schedule.

Engineering mistakes have cost the taxpayers, an unknown amount… as the bridge replacement had to be delayed as utility lines suddenly appeared on the old bridge.  Caltrans also botched the bridge design … the original bridge supports were not nearly deep enough … according to test brings done after the first set of piers was drilled into the mud,

The deed will be shifted to the southern half of the road in a few weeks… unless some other problem comes up.

City, Steve McClary says the bumpy pavement… which is quite loud… will be repaired soon also.

NEWSCART TRANCAS BRIDGE

“We have been trying to press Caltrans to make some improvements to safety and paving.

“And we have been informed that they are going to expect to be out this month to do a pothole repair and to smooth out the payment for the construction is going.”

The state late Friday issued word … that repaving operations will close one lane in each direction on Saturday.

Caltrans has already put in a flashing light on the concrete barriers at the bridge detour.

Some residents have pointed out … very poor detour signage.

Five cars have hit the temporary concrete barrier that moves traffic over … most of them at the small gate that was left for construction access.

A blinking light has been installed there.

Meanwhile, 3 Contradictory News Releases On Topanga Canyon Closures

Caltrans has issued three sets of contradictory news releases about lane closures in Topanga Canyon … coming up this summer.

First … they advised that a major rock removal program would get underway this summer ….  with a large amount of rocks and dirt to be removed from canyon walls.

Then they said that project would be be happening for at least six months.

No explanation given for the delay … but KBUU has learned that the state Transportation Department is waiting for permits for the rock removal at the state Coastal Commission.

Remember that this El Niño season,… when rocks start damaging cars and curing delays on Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

This landslides are protected by your friends at the California Coastal Commission.

No word on why Caltrans announced the project had started before it had obtained the Coastal Commission permits.

Amidst that sea of confusion … the state has now announced that a major fire prevention brush removal project is just starting on Topanga Canyon Boulevard this summer..

Hand tools will be used to remove brush from the top of the canyon … near Mulholland Highway … down to Entrada Drive … about halfway to the ocean.  The lower part of the canyon ,.. the part with the Coastal Commission-protected cliffs … will not have its brush removed.

Watch for major lane closure activities … with only one lane open for both directions of traffic … for 10 days starting next Wednesday.