Lassen National Forest officials have announced that the damaged Windy Cut Bridge remains closed to all vehicular traffic and will remain closed until necessary repairs are completed. Located on the Forest’s Almanor Ranger District, the 59-foot-long bridge is located north of State Highway 32, west of the Deer Creek Trailhead, and crosses over Deer Creek on National Forest System Road 27N08.
Forest visitors generally use the Windy Cut Bridge to access the Black Rock Campground near Mill Creek and the Ishi Wilderness.
In late fall 2016, a field inspection of the bridge revealed that the concrete seat on the downstream side of the bridge had deteriorated to the extent that the girder was not safely supported. The Forest Service is currently processing a contract for the bridge repair work.
It is anticipated that the repairs will be completed by May 5, 2017, dependent on site and weather conditions. Once the repair contract is awarded, a timeline for opening the bridge will be established. Until repair operations begin, the bridge will remain open for foot traffic.
“We have placed barriers on both ends of the bridge and installed bridge closure signs at prominent road intersections,” said Lassen National Forest Engineer Heather Blevins, who is coordinating the closure. “We want to take every precaution to ensure public safety.”
For more information, contact Heather Blevins at (530) 252-6622.
