Given weeks of good weather, Flatiron Construction has made good progress on the Big Bear bridge project at Big Bear Lake’s west end. According to CalTrans consultant Dennis Green, “We just had our first successful blast yesterday. The blast went off as designed.” Green tells KBHR that rock on the hillside is being excavated in order to allow for the new bridge alignment, which will be just southwest of the Big Bear Dam and the current roadway. Adds Green, “We anticipate one blast a week or so for the next couple of months, and we’re monitoring seismic impact to make sure it does not affect nearby cabins or the dam. We also have a biologist on scene to make sure we are not impacting the animals.” This consideration of birds and animals in the area is part of the agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, as the new bridge is being constructed on the San Bernardino National Forest. For those traveling beyond Big Bear to the west, using either Highway 18 or Highway 38 to Arctic Circle, minimal delays can be expected from 7am to 3:30pm on weekdays, though no construction or roadwork will be done on the project during weekends. CalTrans also plans to hold a brainstorming session with locals, in order to find ways to support area businesses during construction, though no date for this task force meeting has yet been set.
