Project Details
In early January 2023, severe storms and flooding along the Arroyo de la Laguna overtopped the banks and washed away the existing cart bridge serving The Club at Castlewood. Recognizing the urgency of restoring this vital access, PASE was brought on as the structural engineer to lead the technical response. The new 250-foot bridge required an entirely reimagined approach, engineered to sit over 9 feet higher than the original crossing to meet updated 100-Year Water Surface Elevation (WSEL) requirements. Working in close coordination with the civil, geotechnical, and environmental teams, PASE developed foundation and superstructure solutions that addressed seismic slope stability, liquefaction risks, and complex permitting restrictions related to waterway encroachment.
Due to limited site access on the south bank and poor soil conditions on the north, helical piles and additional auger-cast stitch piles were selected for the bridge foundation. Throughout the design and construction phases, PASE coordinated with Farrell Design-Build, Contech Engineered Solutions, and other key partners to integrate pile capacities, abutment anchorage, superstructure loads, and construction staging. Unexpected field discoveries, including an 8” PVC water line directly under a new abutment, necessitated rapid redesigns to maintain momentum. Despite significant logistical hurdles, including using a 300-ton crane at maximum capacity for the bridge lift, the team delivered a successful replacement that restored critical connectivity to the club while improving long-term resilience against future storms.
