An Icon on Highway 1: California’s Last Wooden Highway Bridge Faces the Wrecking Ball
The Albion River Bridge in Mendocino County, California. (YouTube/Caltrans District 1)
California’s Highway 1 is best known for its breathtaking coastal scenery, but right now it’s at the center of a heated debate over a bridge that locals say defines their town.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced plans to demolish the historic Albion River Bridge, the state’s last wooden highway span, calling it structurally unsafe and seismically vulnerable. Built in 1944, the bridge resembles a wooden train trestle straight out of a Hollywood Western—an image residents say has become inseparable from Albion’s identity.
“It’s hard to look at a photo of Albion that doesn’t also show the bridge,” said Jim Heid, a member of the Albion Bridge Stewards, a preservation group formed in 2017 to fight for the landmark’s survival.
The Stewards argue that with proper maintenance, the bridge could remain in use. Caltrans, however, points to rotting beams, corroded bolts, cracked supports, and the lack of walkways or bike lanes as proof that the structure has outlived its usefulness. The agency has drawn up a $136 million plan for a modern concrete arch replacement featuring wider lanes, sidewalks, and updated safety railings.
Opponents counter that while a new bridge may be functional, losing the Albion River Bridge will carry economic consequences, particularly for tourism. “It is more than just a way of getting across the river. It is an emblem of the community,” Heid said. “With the demise of the timber and fishing industries, tourism and preservation are the economic engines of this area.”
Despite pushback, Caltrans finalized the replacement design last month and says construction will begin in 2028 and wrap up by 2031. That timeline means not only the demolition of the bridge, but also the closure of the nearby Albion River Campground and Beach for more than three years.
To honor the historic span, the state has promised an interpretive exhibit near the new bridge and even a short documentary on a Caltrans-supported website. But for many locals, those gestures don’t come close to replacing the real thing. “Everybody knows that a sign doesn’t drive tourists,” Heid said. “Nobody takes a picture of a sign.”
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