This article was written by BenitoLink intern Camille Mattish. Lea este articulo en español aquí.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors on May 7 unanimously approved three items regarding the new Limekiln Road bridge.
The approvals provide services related to construction of the new bridge, the purchase of 2.8 acres of surrounding land and adoption of plans and specifications for the bridge.
Public Works Administrator Steve Loupe said the estimated cost of the bridge is $2.5 million. The approximate time period of construction is seven months and the project is expected to be completed in spring 2025.
Limekiln Bridge is a small wooden bridge located on Limekiln Road, off Cienega Road, in the unincorporated area of San Benito County. It is one of 10 bridge projects the county is working on, according to Loupe. This project began in 2012 and has been on a 12-year plan. There was staff turnover at the beginning of the project which delayed progress.
The project’s environmental impact report states that endangered California tiger salamanders are believed to be in the vicinity of the bridge but it has not been confirmed. This triggers an Incidental Take Permit, “meaning we might accidentally incidentally impact one of those species,” said Loupe. This entails the purchase of an additional 2.8 acres of mitigation land for the species to inhabit. Loupe said the average cost of the land is about $50,000 per acre, for a total cost of $140,000.
During public comment county resident Valerie Egland shared her concern about the incidental takes. She asked if the county could use land it already owns and make a sanctuary rather than spend additional money, then use the $140,000 on other needed projects in the county.
Loupe replied that tiger salamanders have not actually been seen but they must still purchase the 2.8 acres for legal reasons, as it could be a potential habitat for the amphibians.
District 4 Supervisor Angela Curro said, “I just have a really hard time with this entire process because, I understand environmentally this is very important, but there’s got to be another way of doing this without wasting taxpayer dollars, in my opinion.”
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