American River Wildlife News
Senate Approves Folsom Bridge Bill
Tue 22 Aug 2006 08:23:47 AM PDT - Other News
The state Legislature has cleared a path for Folsom to build a new $105 million bridge across the American River - a move that brings the city one step closer to easing traffic for at least 15,000 daily commuters.
A land-purchase bill written by Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, unanimously passed the Senate Tuesday and will go to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for consideration.
"There are multiple steps to this process and every time we get through one, it's a shorter path to getting this thing built," said Folsom Mayor Andy Morin.
Cox's Senate Bill 1536 allows the city to purchase 14 acres of land at Folsom prison and the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, along with two small privately owned parcels needed in order to construct the new bridge.
Folsom officials have been pushing for a new route since the Bureau of Reclamation closed the two-lane, 2.3-mile Folsom Dam Road in February 2003 amid fears of terrorist attacks.
Read the story from the Sacramento Bee.