Horse Creek Bridge Replacement update — Highway 96, Siskiyou County

Caltrans District 2 and contractor Myers & Sons Construction have recently begun construction on the Horse Creek Bridge Replacement on State Route 96 in Siskiyou County. The project will replace the Klamath River Bridge near Horse Creek on a new highway alignment, addressing current soil erosion around the bridge foundations and increasing vertical and horizontal clearance for trucks and freight haulers moving goods through the area.

The new design also features larger eight-foot shoulders and a bicycle railing, enhancing safety and accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists. Worker safety will be improved by significantly reducing or eliminating the need for crews to scale the steep structure to fix damage caused when larger trucks or their freight loads impact the overhead bridge truss.

Slope excavation for the new alignment is currently underway, which may include rock blasting operations. Motorists are advised to be prepared for 24/7 one-way traffic control with up to 6-minute delays typically. Motorists should allot up to 30-minutes for delays on days when blasting operations are planned. Once slope excavation operations are completed, traffic delays on the project are planned to be minimal, as most of the work will occur on an adjacent alignment. Motorists are advised to watch for debris in the area during excavation operations.

Due to temporary construction activities, boating and river access is restricted at the Horse Creek Bridge site. River users floating through or putting in at Brown Bear River Access must make alternative arrangements to avoid the Klamath River Bridge work zone or portage around at the Brown Bear River Access.

Motorists are reminded that the law requires them to slow down, obey temporary speed limit reductions, and drive carefully in and around construction areas. This multi-year project is currently planned for completion in late 2025 and will go into suspension during winter months.

Construction projects are subject to changes without prior notice. To stay up to date on highway projects, please follow us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Project information can also be found on the District 2 webpage. The public can also call (530) 225-3426 during business hours or send an email to reach D2 Public Information. Updated highway conditions for California can be found on QuickMap and on One-Stop-Shop for the Western U.S. For more information about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov and Build.gov.ca.