Do you want to see what a $350,000 bridge looks like?

 21J wanders around the Sierras looking for well spent OHV funds.

During my ride with Wayne in Georgetown while doing the six part series on the 250FX we rode down to Rock Creek to take a break and enjoy the surroundings and the creek, which countless others have done over the years. We’ve (Motorcyclists) been crossing this creek for many, many decades. In the winter it can be impassible (Too deep) but the riding area is routinely closed when the forest service thinks the area has had too much rain anyway. Even in the summer if you don’t do it right you could tip over and drown your bike.

A couple of years ago now a bridge was built over Rock Creek which is in the El Dorado National forest and this particular bridge is in the OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) riding area above Georgetown, CA.

The local environmentalist group argued that if a motorcycle should tip over the pollutants could harm the creek and its inhabitants downstream. The solution build a $350,000 bridge with OHV money.

At one time many, many years ago there was a road (For vehicles) that came down the hill on both sides of the creek and there was a bridge that crossed the creek but had washed out decades before. Over the years the road coming down from one direction has deteriorate the point walking or riding a motorcycle is the only way down. The other side is still passable in a vehicle to within a ¼ of a mile or so from the creek.

Looking at the pictures of the bridge it doesn’t look like it should have cost that much, but it did.

Doug 21J 

PS Yes, that is a car in the picture behind Wayne. About twenty years ago some fool (fools) drove their car down the bad side of the hill and that’s where it ended up. I’m sure that was the last attempt by anyone.