AUBURN, CA (MPG) - Placer County is moving forward with plans to replace the aging Haines Road bridge over Wise Canal in North Auburn, taking two key steps toward construction of a safer, modern two-lane crossing. 

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the project’s construction plans and specifications, authorized staff to seek construction bids and approved a $1.1 million agreement with Dewberry Engineers Inc. for construction management, materials testing and related services. 

The existing one-lane bridge is 96 years old, and showing structural deterioration. The replacement will be 73 feet long and feature a 32-foot-wide, two-lane roadway designed to meet current structural, roadway and drainage standards. 

The project also includes improvements to roadway approaches, visibility and roadway layout near Carriage Oaks Lane to improve safety for motorists. 

With the plans approved and construction management services in place, the county expects to begin construction in 2027. The estimated construction cost is $7.4 million. 

The overall project cost is estimated at $11.5 million, with funding coming from the federal Highway Bridge Program. The project will not affect the county's General Fund. 

Dewberry Engineers Inc. was selected following a competitive procurement process that included nine proposals and interviews with the six highest-scoring firms. 

The project’s environmental review was completed through a mitigated negative declaration approved by the Board of Supervisors in Dec. 2016. The California Department of Transportation also approved a categorical exclusion determination in September 2017.