The current bridge, which provides the only access to the camp, was re-opened with one lane on May 4 after being closed for 42 days. Santa Cruz County officials had condemned the bridge and ordered it closed March 23, when a construction crew hired by the camp to repair the structure discovered additional problems.
Walton says all of the costs incurred since the bridge’s closing, including construction of the new structure, will amount to $980,727. The camp has been able to pay part of the cost with reserve funds. Last month, 28 churches raised almost $57,000 by taking a second offering one Sunday in the month, Walton says.
Although the current bridge has only one lane, the camp will be able to “fully operate” during the busy summer, Walton says. Construction of the new structure is slated for this fall pending local government approval.
The camp’s executive director, Bryan Hayes, has said the proposed two-lane bridge will cost at least $400,000 and be located 1,000 feet upstream from the current site.
Mission Springs initially contracted with Granite Construction for $150,000 to repair the current bridge after a routine inspection last fall revealed that the structure no longer met code. That work began February 22 and was expected to take 28 days.
