Bridge connecting Merced, Stanislaus counties finally replaced, improves commute
A vital bridge between Merced and Stanislaus counties finally has been replaced after years of intermittent closures due to safety concerns.
The foundation of the original Hills Ferry Bridge just south of Newman sat just 14 feet into the San Joaquin River sediment, meaning it was in danger of washout. As a consequence, the bridge would close during heavy rainfall events.
“If you look at 14 feet, I mean that’s not that much, it’s kind of scary,” said David Leamon, director of public works for Stanislaus County.
Caltrans determined the bridge was deficient in 2018.
“When the flows got up, we could not tell if the bridge was being washed out or not,” said Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Pereira. “So we would have to close it down until the water dropped far enough for us to be able to evaluate it before we could reopen it.”
Merced County Public Works Director Nathan Bray said that during high flow events on the San Joaquin River, it was considered a “bridge of concern.”
“I’ve talked to friends and family that travel across that bridge and they say, ‘Wow, what an improvement this is,’” Bray said. “You no longer feel like you’re just rattling as you go across the bridge.”
The bridge was built in 1961 with driven steel piles, said Leamon, and its load-bearing capacity wasn’t the issue. He believes the original builders hadn’t anticipated how the river movement would impact it.
The new bridge has heavy-duty foundations that go about 130 feet deep, which Leamon said will prevent issues moving forward.
Newman Mayor Casey Graham said the bridge is a major route to get to Turlock and Merced.
“It was vital for people who commute that direction,” he said. When the bridge was closed, it caused delays and extended commute times. Residents would have to go down Crows Landing Road or into Merced County and use Highway 140.
Additionally, people from Ceres and Patterson use the route to get to Interstate 5.
Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Pereira said he has lived in the area his whole life. He said when the bridge would close, it would turn a quarter-mile or mile drive into a 12- to 15-mile commute.
“One of my constituents traveled that bridge, I believe, five times a day,” Pereira said. “They were spending five miles a day driving equipment, and then it turned into 55 miles a day.”
The bridge was on the books for an upgrade or replacement for 15 years. “The last four or five years, it’s really come to a head because we were having to shut it down so often,” Pereira said.
Leamon said the bridge was closed for two or three months in 2022. “It was a big deal,” he said.
He said the project involved a memorandum of understanding with the two counties. Stanislaus County took the lead and worked with contractors Golden State Bridge and Malcolm Drilling to get it done.
The construction of the new bridge took about a year and a half, and there is still some work being done around the bridge.
The project was funded largely by the Highway Bridge Program in California. It’s a pool of federal funds set aside for local agencies. Merced and Stanislaus split the local share of funds.
Graham said the project shows what taxpayer money is going. “I’m excited that the counties put money into this and built it,” he said.
Pereira said both the Merced and Stanislaus County public works departments worked hard.
“I’m just happy that both Merced and Stanislaus County were able to work together and get the project out in service to the community,” Bray said.
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Bridge connecting Merced, Stanislaus counties finally replaced, improves commute."
