SAN LUIS OBISPO - Its been standing strong for 104 years. but it appears time has finally caught up with the historic Marsh Street Bridge in downtown San Luis Obispo.
City engineers say while the bridge is not in any immediate danger of collapse it will have to be torn down and replaced, calling it a matter that must be addressed.
The reconstruction project would take more than six months to complete and could cost as much as $7 million.
About $500,000 would come from the city and the rest from federal grants.
Residents say the Marsh Street bridge and the stretch of street near the Santa Rosa Street intersection gets a lot of traffic.
"Yeah all the time", says local resident Nick Cross, "there's always cars going there whether its morning or night."
Not only will traffic be impacted by the bridge reconstruction project, but so will the businesses that are on the same block of Marsh Street.
"I'm sure it will have some impact", says Rusty Zane who works at the Downtown Car Wash, which benefits from the one-way traffic on Marsh Street that keeps business driving in, the city's always been very good about trying to keep traffic flowing for the businesses in downtown."
Other merchants in the area say its perception versus reality when it comes to downtown road work.
"Its just that when people are under the impression that its harder to get somewhere they avoid going there", says Jim Empey, owner of Fast Frame on Santa Rosa Street, "with the parking situation, if that can't park right in front of your store, they don't even consider some of the downtown lots, they still think its too much of a burden on them."
The bridge reconstruction project comes before the San Luis Obispo City Council on Tuesday.
