Point Reyes Light - September 23, 2004
Ink Wells Bridge going up
By Jim Kravets
Construction of a bridge over the Ink Wells, west of downtown Lagunitas, is underway and due to be completed by Oct. 29, according to Marin Municipal Water District officials.
The bridge will span over a semi-private, semi-public swimming hole in San Geronimo Creek, just upstream from its confluence with Papermill/Lagunitas Creek.
Designed for pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian use, the bridge will conceal two new water mains across San Geronimo Creek. The bridge will parallel the existing pipe over the creek, which Marin Municipal will replace.
The site chosen for the bridge straddles an historic swimming hole, the Ink Wells, which first became popular with bathers in 1856 when Samuel P. Taylor (for whom the adjacent park is named) began inviting friends to camp there.
The bridge will be owned by both Marin Municipal and County of Marin. It will create a long-anticipated link between the trail system in Samuel P. Taylor State Park and open space south of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
Total construction cost for the project is estimated at $1.32 million, Open Space district officials said. County government contributed $908,000 toward the project while the remainder was funded by Marin Municipal, which is overseeing construction.
The water district received five bids for this project and awarded the contract to Maggiora and Ghilotti, Inc. of San Rafael. The bridge itself was built by Excel Bridge Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles County and is scheduled to arrive via truck in three pieces on Oct. 6.
Lorenzo Bazargani, project manager for Maggiora and Ghilotti, said that people can probably start using the bridge in November. The bridge will be 164 feet long, nine feet wide, and constructed of steel with wood decking, Bazargani said. The existing water pipe at the site will be removed by early next year, Marin Municipal officials said.