Mt. Vernon Bridge
Time to Repair! Agrees Governor Brown
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In Sacramento, California Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) announced Tuesday August 1st, that Governor Brown did sign Assembly Bill 1523 that will allow an expedited construction process to be used to make much needed restorations to the Mt. Vernon Bridge.
“The Mt. Vernon Bridge has been in need of a major safety renovation for 20 years,” Assemblyman Obernolte said. “AB 1523 gives us a tool to undertake that construction project using an efficient process that limits delays and bureaucratic red tape.”
Assemblyman Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace) added, "I am proud to have joined my colleague, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, as a joint author of AB 1523. The Mt. Vernon viaduct is a top priority and with AB 1523's passage, we are closer to rebuilding the bridge that connects our communities in the heart of San Bernardino."
The Mt. Vernon Avenue Viaduct is a 1,016 foot bridge that was built in 1934 and has had an insufficient safety rating since 1997. This major north-south arterial within the City of San Bernardino spans over multiple railways, many of which carry passengers daily. AB 1523 allows the use of a project delivery process called “design-build”, which allows for an expedited construction schedule by procuring the design and construction of a project from a single entity. The safety concern caused by the bridge’s unique positioning over an active railway is why it is critically important to complete this project quickly.
AB 1523 will go into effect on January 1, 2018.