Beginning Monday, June 15, 2009, from 1:30-2:30 p.m., the Bureau of Reclamation will temporarily close Folsom Lake Crossing for blasting activities in support of the Joint Federal Project's (JFP) auxiliary spillway, being constructed by Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Folsom Dam and Reservoir. Temporary bridge closures will occur at the same time each day, Monday through Friday, throughout the summer, with completion in fall 2009. The temporary bridge closures are not scheduled during weekends or holidays. Reclamation and the City of Folsom have coordinated the blasting activities and temporary bridge closures to ensure the least possible disruption to traffic.

Safety regulations require a "clear zone" during blasting. Since Folsom Lake Crossing is immediately adjacent to the site of the new JFP auxiliary spillway, the bridge must be closed during blasting. For vehicles, bridge closures will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with reopening following blasting. For pedestrians and bicyclists, bridge closures will begin at approximately 1 p.m. to ensure sufficient time for individuals to fully cross the bridge prior to blasting. Closures could be as long as 1 hour but will usually last only about 35 minutes. The contractor, Martin Brothers Construction, will post signs to notify the public of the closures and will use vehicles and other traffic control devices to block bridge entrances and direct traffic at East Natoma Street and Folsom Auburn Road. The public should obey contractor instructions and posted signs.

The blasting will involve up to 200 "shots" at one time. The shots will be placed into holes drilled into the ground and covered with blanketing to prevent "fly rock." The blasts will have just enough charge to crack the rock so that it can be excavated. Blasting should cause very little noise or dust.

When completed by 2015, the JFP will include an auxiliary spillway consisting of a 1,000-foot-long approach channel from Folsom Reservoir, a concrete control structure with six submerged gates, a 2,700-foot-long concrete-lined spillway chute, and a stilling basin. The new control structure and spillway will provide Reclamation with improved hydrologic control of storm-induced floods, increasing the safety of the public downstream of Folsom Dam and Reservoir.

Information on the closures and a map showing alternate routes the public may use during the closures is available on Reclamation's JFP website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/jfp/index.html. Information on the closures may also be found on the City of Folsom's website at http://www.folsom.ca.us/. For questions regarding the JFP or the bridge closures, please call Reclamation at 916-988-1707 or e-mail folsomdammods@mp.usbr.gov.