213 replies to this topic

[bunny]

I agree. When the dam road closed, my trips to roseville and parts north of there became 15 minutes longer each way as I had to go down to hazel or sunrise or cut through downtown folsom.

The traffic in downtown folsom went balookers right after the dam road closed. A whole lot of people want to get from near the east side to somewhere beyond the west side.

[supermom]

how would you like to cross the country in a covered wagon, things could be worse

hmm--thank god I was born in this century and don't have any flashbacks of horse poo slicked roads, no windshields on rainy days, and potholes as deep as our famous yet empty lake.

I'm sure those times were miserable for ya back then, old timer. But --- With a population increase in the last 50 years in this area --I would hazard a guess to say that the roads are not proportionately growing, either horizontally or vertically---in this area.

[petro]

I can't wait for the bridge to open. however I don't share the belief that most have that it will make a great difference. My guess is we will still see those traffic jams from the jr high all the way to Auburn Folsom road. Mainly at lunch time and 300 till 7pm.

Hope I'm wrong>>>>>>>>

[Bill Z]

I can't wait for the bridge to open. however I don't share the belief that most have that it will make a great difference. My guess is we will still see those traffic jams from the jr high all the way to Auburn Folsom road. Mainly at lunch time and 300 till 7pm.

Hope I'm wrong>>>>>>>>

trust me, it will help the 3 PM to 7 PM logjam a lot. When dam road was open, rainbow bridge was nowhere near as bad as it is now after they closed the dam road, when they open it back up, it just isn't opening the old closed artery, it now will be 2 lanes each direction, so it will be 2X what the old artery could flow and it won't have the same twisties that scared the sheeps into driving too slow. I'm not sure how it will impact the lunch rush, but it still should help that some.

[granto]

trust me, it will help the 3 PM to 7 PM logjam a lot. When dam road was open, rainbow bridge was nowhere near as bad as it is now after they closed the dam road, when they open it back up, it just isn't opening the old closed artery, it now will be 2 lanes each direction, so it will be 2X what the old artery could flow and it won't have the same twisties that scared the sheeps into driving too slow. I'm not sure how it will impact the lunch rush, but it still should help that some.

Agreed. Just look at how much traffic moves from Natoma across the bridge(s) (and vice versa). Most of that traffic will now move to the new bridge. That will cause downstream improvements like the left turn signal at Riley/Natoma being shorter.

The problem will be that traffic follows the laws of gas, it will fill any void that remains. So after 6 months, we may not notice the improvement as much.

[MSgt]

...As for the City closing the bridge on opening day, what would that cost to do so in staffing an event? If there are no costs associated with a pedestrian event, fine. In these times, don't go wasting our tax money on a fluff, feel good event. There will be ped lanes if you want to walk across that badly.

hmm... why the sarcasm?
They didn't close the bridge for pedestrians... they opened it for traffic after the celebration (which included people walking across the bridge and back to check it out) - it was not yet open for traffic. I guess I didn't make myself clear on that.

I don't know that it cost any money at all. Maybe for the ribbon? Maybe if they buy a special pair of scissors to cut the ribbon? I would think they would have a pair of scissors around this city somewhere they could use. They didn't serve food or anything - I think any cost was very minimal but I don't know for sure.
Yes I guess it was fluff... I guess that is what a celebration is. I think this bridge opening is worth celebrating though.

So maybe I can make myself a little clearer:
When the new bridge opened they had a grand opening celebration. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony, a couple speeches and then the bridge was open for people in the community to walk across. After the celebration they opened the bridge to traffic. It was fun. I was just wondering if anyone knew if they were going to do the same type of celebration when the new new bridge opened.

[northfolsommom]

I live in North Folsom, and I'm eager for this bridge to open--as are most of my neighbors. I believe many residents here would use it as their main river crossing--cutting down on the traffic coming across the Lake Natoma and Rainbow bridges. Also, in terms of city sales tax, it could help--I know once the dam road closed, many of us here in North Folsom felt cut off, and avoided the crowded bridges any time we could, so a lot of us shop regularly now in Granite Bay and Roseville instead.

At the same time, hearing from lots of friends in East Folsom who are eager for the bridge to open, too--parents in Sun City Lincoln, select/comp soccer games/other kid activities in G.B. and Roseville, etc.

Lastly, there was a lot of research done at the time this bridge project was approved. According to Miklos, who I interviewed for a story at the time, it was found the majority of commuters using the dam road were going between EDH and Roseville/Rocklin. Meaning the closure pushed a lot of non-Folsom traffic onto local streets.

[Bill Z]

I live in North Folsom, and I'm eager for this bridge to open--as are most of my neighbors. I believe many residents here would use it as their main river crossing--cutting down on the traffic coming across the Lake Natoma and Rainbow bridges. Also, in terms of city sales tax, it could help--I know once the dam road closed, many of us here in North Folsom felt cut off, and avoided the crowded bridges any time we could, so a lot of us shop regularly now in Granite Bay and Roseville instead.

At the same time, hearing from lots of friends in East Folsom who are eager for the bridge to open, too--parents in Sun City Lincoln, select/comp soccer games/other kid activities in G.B. and Roseville, etc.

Lastly, there was a lot of research done at the time this bridge project was approved. According to Miklos, who I interviewed for a story at the time, it was found the majority of commuters using the dam road were going between EDH and Roseville/Rocklin. Meaning the closure pushed a lot of non-Folsom traffic onto local streets.

Exactly, which is why it will help the rainbow bridge mess when it opens. It will literally relieve the other two bridges of 10,000 or more vehicles everyday. And numbers I recall from beofre I think put it more like 18,000 vehicle crossings. Anyone who thinks that won't make a noticeable difference doesn't understand common logic and sense.

An example of volume throughput, I remember when lines at Costco gas were always long, and then they added one island, a 33% improvement in volume capability, it reduced the wait far more than I expected.

With the new bridge capable of handling more traffic than the ole dam road did, this will definitely relieve congestion.

[camay2327]

Quote: Lastly, there was a lot of research done at the time this bridge project was approved. According to Miklos, who I interviewed for a story at the time, it was found the majority of commuters using the dam road were going between EDH and Roseville/Rocklin. Meaning the closure pushed a lot of non-Folsom traffic onto local streets. Unquote

I think the majority of traffic will be people cutting across the new bridge, from and to EDH.

Charge them a toll and help the city make money. They didn't help pay for the new bridge but the majority of them will use it.

[Orangetj]

You can caunt us as one less car that will be traveling down Blue Ravine or Natoma to get to the Lake Natoma Bridge. Our primary reason to go across the river is to visit family in Auburn. Now that we live in EDH, using the new dam bridge will cut significant time off of that trip and will allow our route to bypass most of Folsom altogether.

[Bill Z]

Charge them a toll and help the city make money. They didn't help pay for the new bridge but the majority of them will use it.

2 things, how ya going to distinguish between El Dorado County to Placer county traffic vs. local Folsom bridge users.

& adding toll will just add congestion to crossing the bridge making it a less attractive route

I hate toll roads, unless they are voluntary shortcuts like in the LA area

[MSgt]

2 things, how ya going to distinguish between El Dorado County to Placer county traffic vs. local Folsom bridge users.

& adding toll will just add congestion to crossing the bridge making it a less attractive route

I hate toll roads, unless they are voluntary shortcuts like in the LA area

Wouldn't this be considered a voluntary shortcut?

[bunny]

Charge them a toll and help the city make money. They didn't help pay for the new bridge but the majority of them will use it.

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I thought the bridge was built largely with federal funds rather than city funding. I'm also of the impression that the primary pressure to build the bridge came from Folsom officials and businesses who wanted unnecessary traffic to bypass the downtown area.

Seems like Folsom got most of the benefit and very little of the cost, and taxpayers from every neighboring town paid equally as much.

[Bill Z]

Wouldn't this be considered a voluntary shortcut?

No, it's not a privately developed road like the 2 down in LA I am referring to.

[supermom]

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I thought the bridge was built largely with federal funds rather than city funding. I'm also of the impression that the primary pressure to build the bridge came from Folsom officials and businesses who wanted unnecessary traffic to bypass the downtown area.

Seems like Folsom got most of the benefit and very little of the cost, and taxpayers from every neighboring town paid equally as much.

The federal government did pay 2/3 or was it? 3/4 of the $$. The city of Folsom was told to pay the rest. So the city of Folsom was able to get some state funding assistance (here's where it gets sticky--) Which I think they must pay a portion of it back. The rest, Folsom did have to pay. I think from what I understand--the city of Folsom had to pay somewhere around the tune of $15 million dollars--plus the state grant and loan.

Perhaps the fenagling shortened the amount later on--but that was the last # I saw--back in the spring of last year.