Repairs to the Stanislaus River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge in Ripon are expected to begin as early as July, with city officials preparing for a restoration process that could last about a month.

The bridge, which has been closed since October 22, 2023, suffered significant structural damage when a large tree on the Ripon side fell onto a 65-foot section of the span. In the months following the incident, city staff, alongside a structural engineer and several contractors, considered a range of repair options. These included temporary shoring, permanent in-place restoration with heat treatment, and added structural reinforcement.

After evaluating the alternatives, the city opted to replace the damaged segment entirely, following the structural engineer’s final recommendation. The Ripon City Council approved the purchase of a replacement truss bridge segment from Contech Engineering Solutions, with the $107,565 cost covered by the city’s insurance provider.

Before construction can begin, an environmental survey will be conducted to check for nesting birds along the bridge, as required by regulations. This survey must take place no sooner than 14 days before work starts. If the environmental review goes as planned, repairs are scheduled to begin July 7 and wrap up by early August, allowing the bridge to reopen to cyclists and pedestrians before the end of summer.