Demolition on old bridge to start Monday

The California Department of Transportation has announced that demolition of the Clara Osborne Botzum Bridge over the Colorado River between Parker and Earp would start Monday. Caltrans spokesperson Shelli Lombardo said the hours of work would be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. While the highway and the river would be open during this work, Lombardo said temporary closures might be necessary on both because of the staging of demolition equipment.

The demolition of the bridge is expected to last two weeks, and could involve some weekend work, Lombardo said.

The demolition of the bridge is part of a project to build a new bridge between Parker and Earp. The first half of the new bridge opened in August. The project is planned to be completed in 2013.

The old bridge dated to 1937, and was largely credited with opening the Parker area to visitors from Southern California. It was named after Botzum, a Parker civic leader and state legislator who campaigned for its construction while she was the head of the Northern Yuma Chamber of Commerce.

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Demolition on old bridge to start Monday