Pictured is the Fanny Bridge in Placer County. Photo courtesy of Placer County

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) - One of Tahoe City’s most cherished landmarks has officially reopened. Placer County, the Central Federal Lands Division of the Federal Highway Administration, Caltrans and Thompson Builders contractors today announced the completion of the $10.6 million replacement of Fanny Bridge.

The bridge opened to traffic at 10 a.m. Feb. 10.

The new single-span bridge mirrors the appearance of the original historic bridge while removing piers in the Truckee River, preserving the bridge’s historic character and delivering modern safety, accessibility and environmental improvements for the community and visitors alike.

Enhancements

The bridge now features sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes on both sides, enhancing safety and connectivity for all users. The project also included replacement of the sewer main and installation of conduits for any additional utilities that need to be placed along the bridge in the future.

Primarily funded through the Federal Lands Access Program, which constructs infrastructure projects that improve safety and access to federally owned lands, local matching funds were also provided by Placer County and the Tahoe City Public Utility District. The project was also part of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Environmental Improvement Program to restore and improve the environmental health of Lake Tahoe.

In addition to the bridge itself, pedestrian safety improvements include an upgraded pedestrian crossing on the south side of the bridge with push buttons that meet current accessibility standards.

“We are thrilled to officially open the enhanced Fanny Bridge and welcome the community back,” said Placer County Deputy County Executive Officer Stephanie Holloway. “This project will serve residents and visitors to Lake Tahoe for decades to come. We’re proud of the collaboration that made this possible and grateful to our local businesses and the community for their patience throughout construction.”

Timeline

Construction on the new bridge began in summer 2025 and was led by Thompson Builders under contract with the Central Federal Lands Division of the Federal Highway Administration. Following the setup of a river diversion connected to the Bureau of Reclamation’s dam and fish relocation, a full bridge closure began Aug. 11, 2025, and traffic to the west shore was rerouted via the existing state Route 89 bypass. The date of the bridge closure was based on input from local businesses near the wye intersection to minimize impacts.  

To expedite the construction timeline and reduce impacts to the river channel, the existing bridge wingwalls were left in place and precast concrete bridge abutments and girders were fabricated off-site and delivered to the project when they were ready to be installed.

The bypass, constructed in 2019 as part of the broader Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project, played a critical role in maintaining traffic flow and access during the closure. Throughout construction, all Tahoe City businesses remained open and accessible. The new bridge was constructed within the Caltrans’ right-of-way and did not require acquisition of any adjacent private property, even though the new bridge is wider than the old bridge.

Originally scheduled to be completed in November last year, construction of the project experienced delays but was completed within the original budget. Both the implementation of the river diversion and completion of the concrete portions of the bridge extended construction into 2026. The contractor also needed more time to receive approval to fully decommission and remove the diversion once the riverbed was restored to pre-construction elevations to meet project permitting requirements and hydraulic design criteria.

History

Originally built more than a century ago, Fanny Bridge has long served as a gateway to Tahoe City and a focal point of the community. During peak summer months, Fanny Bridge is estimated to carry an average of 22,300 vehicles per day and nearly 400 cyclists and pedestrians an hour, according to the Tahoe Transportation District.

Fanny Bridge spans Lake Tahoe’s only outlet, where water flows through Lake Tahoe Dam into the Truckee River. The 18-foot-tall concrete dam was built between 1909 and 1913 to control the top 6.1 feet of Lake Tahoe’s water.

The Fanny Bridge project is a partnership between Placer County, the Central Federal Lands Division of the Federal Highway Administration, Tahoe City Public Utility District, Bureau of Reclamation, California Department of Transportation, Tahoe Transportation District and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Block party and ceremony

Placer County is working with these partners to plan an official summer ceremony and block party for the bridge May 17. The event is a chance for Tahoe City residents to celebrate both the bridge’s history and its future. Stay tuned for further details.

To learn more about this project’s timeline and see photos, at https://www.placer.ca.gov/8856/State-route-89-Fanny-Bridge-Community-Re.