New I-5 Bridges to Open Today at Site of Washouts That Killed 7
Little more than a month after seven people died in two bridge washouts on Interstate 5, the state will open new bridges today.
The contractor, C.C. Meyers of Rancho Cordova, finished the project 29 days ahead of schedule. The bridges, carrying traffic in both directions on the busy interstate, are about 10 miles east of Coalinga.
Meyers will be paid a bonus of $870,000 for completing the work early. The contractor had promised to do the work within 50 days for $3.6 million.
Seven people tumbled into the raging Arroyo Pasajero creek and died when the bridges collapsed in heavy rains March 10. It took a week to open a temporary bridge made of railroad flatcars across the creek.
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