Sierra County Awards Contract for Durgan Bridge Study
Engineers will examine repair or replacement options for historic Downieville crossing.
The Durgan Bridge in Downieville, built in 1938 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
DOWNIEVILLE — The Sierra County Board of Supervisors approved a professional services agreement with MGE Engineering Inc. on April 7 for the plans, specifications and estimates phase of the Nevada Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The contract carries a maximum cost of $367,196.18 and runs from April 7, 2026, through April 7, 2030.
The Nevada Street Bridge, also known as the Durgan Bridge, carries traffic over the North Fork Yuba River in Downieville. Funding for the overall rehabilitation effort is provided through Caltrans local assistance programs.
The agreement requires MGE Engineering to prepare a Bridge Type Selection Report. Work includes an alternatives analysis that evaluates rehabilitation against full replacement, along with topographic surveys, hydrology and hydraulics studies, and conceptual environmental consultation. The resulting documents will outline costs, advantages, and recommendations to guide future design and construction phases.
The bridge holds historic significance. James Durgan constructed an original wooden span at the site in 1851 to support gold rush activity. Floodwaters destroyed that structure and others in December 1937. Federal New Deal funds financed the current Pratt through truss bridge, completed in 1938 by the Judson Pacific Company under design by county engineer George Taylor. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 10, 2012.
The bridge viewed from the Yuba/Downie River confluence.
A July 2022 federal bridge inspection rated the structure in fair condition and noted the need for repair or corrective action. County officials pursued the rehabilitation project to address the bridge’s age and maintain safe local access.
Supervisor Lee Adams voiced support for the agreement while stressing community concerns. “Four of the five bridges in town are on the national register,” Adams said. “I think they add a lot to the ambience of Downieville.” Adams added that he hoped any work would proceed “in a sensitive manner” and noted interest in options such as relocating the pedestrian walkway to the side of the bridge, similar to work on the Highway 49 bridge. Adams referenced a Nevada City project that incorporated trusses to retain a historic appearance, despite them not being structurally necessary.