The City of Santa Monica, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), began reconstruction today on the California Incline Bridge. The project entails demolition of the existing bridge and construction of a new bridge at the same location to meet current seismic standards. The new structure will include a wider sidewalk and bicycle lanes. The north and south ends of the incline will remain a three-lane roadway that terminates at a signalized intersection. The new bridge will consist of a pile supported reinforced concrete slab structure with a width of 52-feet, an increase of 5-feet 8-inches over the existing structure. Replacement of the bridge with a new structure, built to current seismic standards, will correct deficiencies in the bridge and make it safe for vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian use. The year long construction project is estimated to be completed by Memorial Day weekend of 2016. (Santa Monica, Monday, April 20, 2015)