Better Bridge, Same Cost: Cecchetti Road Bridge Project Delivers for Taxpayers

Souza Construction partners with Adam Verdin to deliver a longer-lasting solution 

With the Cecchetti Road Bridge officially open, the Huasna and parts of the Arroyo Grande Valley communities now have a real path to reliable, year-round access they deserve.

It’s a strong outcome. But it didn’t start that way.

The County’s original plan called for a 60-foot temporary bridge that would be removed each winter, leaving residents cut off during storm season.

The bridge was originally estimated at $250,000. That cost later increased to approximately $700,000 for a temporary structure that would still be removed each winter. Spending that level of taxpayer funding on a temporary solution is not what the community needed.

That approach changed.

According to project documentation, a more durable outcome was made possible with the work of Souza Construction, a neighborhood engineer who lived near the crossing, and Adam Verdin.

Verdin pushed for the bridge span to expand from 60 feet to 100 feet, significantly increasing its ability to clear flood levels and remain open year-round. Verdin also connected Souza Construction with Sterling Equipment in Boston to secure Acrow Bridge components. Souza Construction investigated various bridge material alternatives and even sent representatives to Boston to scope out the Acrow Bridge components at their own cost. The community minded engineer neighbor provided Souza pro bono consultation on how to raise the profile of the crossing and how to best the chances of not having to remove the bridge during higher flows. While the current contract still requires seasonal removal IF creek flows are expected to threaten the bridge, the higher and longer bridge improvements create a very strong likelihood that removal will not be necessary under almost any historically known conditions.

If and when the temporary bridge crossing is removed to make way for a permanent two-way crossing, the Acrow Bridge components are now here in San Luis Obispo County, totaling approximately 2 million pounds and ready for rapid deployment during future flooding events.

The result is a more resilient bridge solution. Souza Construction absorbed approximately $140,000 in additional costs for shipping, parts, and engineering, delivering a significantly upgraded project without increasing costs to taxpayers. After over 3 years of the creek crossing closure, community members are expressing relief and gratitude for the innovative solution that will make their lives easier and safer by providing ready access for everything from school traffic to emergency responders.

“What matters is the outcome,” said Verdin. “The original plan would have left these communities once again cut off or with lengthy detours every winter. That wasn’t acceptable, so we worked to deliver a solution that makes year-round access far more likely.”

The bridge is open. The community is connected. Emergency access is restored.

We’re proud to be part of a community that steps up and gets results.