NEWMAN — Local, county and regional leaders gathered June 3 along the San Joaquin River to celebrate the long‑anticipated opening of the new Hills Ferry Road Bridge, a project officials say represents not only modern infrastructure but years of persistence and partnership between Stanislaus and Merced counties.
The replacement bridge — more than 20 years in the making — officially opened after a 14‑month construction period, marking a major upgrade to one of the Westside’s most important east‑west connectors.
Stanislaus County Public Works Director David Leamon opened the ceremony by acknowledging the long list of agencies, contractors and dignitaries involved, joking that naming them all was “the part that gives me the most anxiety.” But he also underscored the historical significance of the crossing, tracing its roots back to an 1849 Gold Rush‑era ferry and noting that famed naturalist John Muir crossed at Hills Ferry in 1868.
“I love history,” Leamon said. “If I wasn’t an engineer, I’d be a historian. This crossing has been essential to this region for more than a century.”
The new structure replaces the 1961 bridge, which had been plagued by seismic vulnerabilities, scour issues and erosion concerns. Emergency repairs in 2020 bought time, but studies showed a full replacement was more cost‑effective than retrofitting the aging span.
Merced County Public Works Director Nathan Bray emphasized the collaboration behind the project, calling the bridge “a vital connection between Merced County and Stanislaus County.”
“This bridge is more than concrete and steel,” Bray said. “It required two independent agencies working together toward a shared vision. When we work together, we find solutions.”
Bray noted that the partnership began in 2011, when both boards of supervisors approved a memorandum of agreement to start preliminary work. “If you’ve done the math, that was 15 years ago,” he said. “Projects of this magnitude don’t happen overnight.”
Construction began after Golden State Bridge, Inc. was awarded the contract in 2024. NV5 provided construction engineering and project management, and officials praised the project team for completing the work with minimal disruptions — including only a three‑day full closure of the old bridge.
Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Pareira Jr. said the project demonstrated what regional cooperation can accomplish.
“These projects are difficult to do when you’re in charge of everything yourself,” Pareira said. “When you’ve got people working together, it really expedites things. Construction was less than 14 months — that says a lot.”
He also praised the unity among valley counties. “Together we’re strong, and that’s what it takes to get her done,” he said.
Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit, who lives in Newman, said the new bridge is a major improvement for Westside residents.
“I traveled the old bridge, and I’ve now traveled the new bridge — the new bridge is much better,” Condit said. “This is a big day for the Westside.”
The $30.9 million project is funded primarily through the Federal Highway Bridge Program, which covers 88.53% of eligible costs. State Proposition 1B seismic retrofit funds offset part of the local match, with Stanislaus and Merced counties splitting the remainder.
The new 750‑foot bridge features wider lanes and shoulders, improved flood resilience and a realigned roadway that allowed construction to proceed without major traffic impacts. Demolition of the old bridge is underway and expected to continue into spring 2027.
As the ceremony concluded, leaders from both counties gathered for a joint photo — a symbolic reminder of the cooperation that carried the project from concept to completion.
“Today we celebrate not only a bridge that spans a river,” Bray said, “but a partnership that spans county lines and will serve generations to come.”
