Public Works & Planning

Houghton Canal Bridge Replacement on N Chateau Fresno Ave

Photo of the Houghton Canal Bridge on N. Chateau Fresno Ave. The small bridge has a concrete base and wooden guardrail supports with metal rails. The canal below is mostly dry with scattered debris and vegetation. The roadway surface above the bridge appears very worn, with orchards visible in the background.

The Houghton Canal Bridge on N Chateau Fresno Avenue is located approximately 0.5 mile south of Belmont Avenue in southwest Fresno. The bridge is currently in serious condition, according to a 2023 survey, and was closed to traffic in February of 2023 to ensure public safety.

The bridge was originally constructed in 1925 and no improvements have been made since then. The project will replace the structurally deficient timber bridge, with posted load limits, with a bridge that meets current safety standards. Due to low traffic volumes and reasonably short detour of three miles, the roadway will remain closed to public traffic until after construction is complete. Traffic will be detoured around the project site by way of Belmont Avenue, Grantland Avenue, and SR 180.

Construction on the replacement bridge is expected to start in 2025 at a cost of approximately $2.5 million.

Location Map(PDF, 763KB)

Photo of the Houghton Canal Bridge on N. Chateau Fresno Ave. The bridge is closed with multiple barricades, orange warning lights, cones, and caution tape blocking the roadway. Guardrails line both sides of the bridge. Beyond the closure, the road continues past fields, trees, and nearby buildings.