Then & Now: Truck Traffic Could Cross Jim's Bridge

Fortunately we still have Bob Brugger as an active member of the Fair Oaks Historical Society, and he provided me with the whole story. Bob's father began working for Pacific Coast Aggregates (the gravel plant) in 1915 and became Superintendent there. Bob retired as Superintendent of Maintenance. He grew up on-site in the Superintendent's house about where the field behind the raft company is. He ought to know. 

Bob writes: "In 1953 the County put a five-ton weight limit on the Old Fair Oaks Bridge, virtually stopping all truck traffic from the PCA plant from crossing the bridge. This meant trucks from the company would have to go east to Folsom or west to Sacramento in order to deliver their materials to any point north of the river. The company decided to place a small bridge crossing down river from the Old Fair Oaks Bridge. The truck traffic would cross the American River and travel up Pennsylvania Avenue." 

Bob goes on to write about the numerous times the little bridge washed out in the next six years before the engineers got the design right.

"Following the building of the Sunrise Bridge, the concrete span was used by the aggregate company to transport materials from one part of the operation to another."

Thanks Bob!

Original post:

This popular Fair Oaks footbridge was built in 1953 and runs parallel to the Sunrise Boulevard crossing bridge over the American River. What was its original purpose?

For more on the history of Fair Oaks, . For even more, check out the Fair Oaks: Then & Now topic page.