The City of Carlsbad is planning a Dark Canyon Bridge project to prevent possible future deaths and provide traffic relief. This planning phase began a year after the low water crossings got damaged by runoff from heavy rains last June. As a result, an estimated $1 million in damages was amassed that year and human lives were lost too.
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) provided the funding to cover the planning and design costs of the Dark Canyon Bridge. Through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, $1.1 million was awarded for the city’s infrastructure projects. However, only $273,000 of the money was set aside to work on the initial planning and design phase.
Benefits of the Canyon Bridge project
Recently the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg spoke on the importance of the bridge project. He said the bridge project would provide more choices for non-motorized transportation at Boyd Drive and Radio Boulevard crossing Dark Canyon. Furthermore, sustainable construction techniques would be incorporated into the design, with the aim of limiting flooding and improving the corridor’s condition.
The city’s deputy administrator Casey Cass said the city was excited about receiving the federal funding. He further stated that receiving these funds means the city is also likely to receive funding for future construction. Cass mentioned that the new bridge would provide a secondary north-south traffic route for drivers when the Dark Canyon is flooded. Especially since only one safe north-south path is available in Carlsbad during floods, which is the Canal Street Bridge. Therefore, adding this secondary crossing point will greatly improve public safety in the area.
Mayor Janway was pleased with the progress on the bridge project, which he said has been in the works for a while. He also mentioned that the Dark Canyon bridge was greatly needed for public safety and referred to a tragic death. During the flood last year, a resident named John Paul Koch died while crossing Radio Boulevard.
