Cecchetti Road Temporary Bridge Project Approved
Author: Board of Supervisors
Date: 11/18/2025 11:29 AM
Full funding for Cecchetti Road temporary bridge project approved; Installation anticipated for Spring 2026
Supervisor Jimmy Paulding is pleased to announce that full funding for the Cecchetti Road Temporary Bridge project was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Installation is scheduled to take place in March or April 2026 at the conclusion of the rainy season. This temporary structure will restore a vital connection for residents and local farmers while work continues on the permanent bridge, currently anticipated for 2027.
“I want to acknowledge the immense frustration and hardship this road closure has caused over the past three years,” said Supervisor Paulding. “Since the January 2023 storms washed out the crossing over Arroyo Grande Creek, the community has shown patience and resilience in navigating the impacts. I share in that frustration, and I’m grateful for the community’s strength.”
Cecchetti Road is one of two vital bridge connections between the Arroyo Grande and Huasna communities. The emergency closure of the Cecchetti Road low water crossing has diverted significant traffic onto Huasna Road, negatively impacting access for emergency vehicles, farming operations, and Branch Elementary School. Since its closure, residents, first responders, and organizations representing the local agricultural community—including the Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and SLO Counties and the SLO County Farm Bureau—have called on the County of San Luis Obispo to restore Cecchetti Road access as soon as possible.
The 2023 Winter storms caused more than $70 million in damage to County roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure, impacting nearly 880 sites countywide. Public Works teams have been working tirelessly since then, completing hundreds of permanent and temporary repairs, with the remaining recovery projects scheduled through 2027.
In response to questions about the cost of the temporary bridge—estimated at just over $600,000—Supervisor Paulding emphasized that this investment is modest within the broader context of storm recovery.
“Restoring access is essential for our community to function and thrive,” Paulding said. “This temporary bridge is a meaningful step forward. It will bring relief to residents, reconnect our rural communities, and support the farmers and families who rely on this route every day.”
The County of San Luis Obispo will continue to keep residents informed as installation approaches and the permanent bridge project moves through design, permitting, and construction. Learn more about Cecchetti Road here.
