The Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project represents the critical final step in securing the transportation infrastructure of Santa Cruz, California, as it tackles the last remaining bridge in the city not yet brought up to modern earthquake safety standards. Spanning the scenic and bustling Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor, this vital artery is undergoing a massive, $45 million dollar transformation that officially kicked off in early 2025 and is slated for completion in January 2028. Beyond protecting thousands of daily commuters from future tectonic shifts, the multi-year project is expanding the bridge deck by roughly ten feet to accommodate brand new 6' (ft) wide bike lanes and a 7 ½" (ft) wide pedestrian sidewalk. The complex scope also includes a major regional sewer force main realignment that serves approximately thirty-five thousand area residents, a task so precise that it requires a full three-and-a-half-month closure of the bridge starting in the Summer of 2026 to capitalize on the lowest seasonal water flows. 

To execute this high-stakes engineering feat, the city entrusted the primary contract to Shimmick Construction Company, a national leader known for tackling premier, complex heavy civil infrastructure projects across the United States. Shimmick is a particularly perfect fit for the Murray Street Retrofit due to their extensive legacy of executing massive water infrastructure and seismic upgrade projects that demand extreme precision under strict environmental oversight. Their team excels at balancing heavy-duty structural engineering with public transparency, making them uniquely qualified to navigate the tight deadlines, active harbor channel constraints, and regional traffic diversions that a project of this magnitude demands. 

Down in the active harbor channel, Shimmick is currently utilizing an exceptionally powerful, rented ICE® 44B vibratory hammer to drive interlocking steel sheet piles directly into the harbor floor. The specialized vibratory equipment was selected because the localized environment of the Small Craft Harbor features a highly sensitive marine habitat, home to harbor seals and diverse local fish species. Environmental and engineering assessments specified vibratory installation for the foundation piles to manage underwater pressure waves and protect marine wildlife. By deploying the ICE® 44B hammer, the crew efficiently constructed watertight cofferdams, creating the dry workspaces needed to safely pour the massive new seismic support columns into the bedrock. Equipped with rugged Hydrauli-Flex™ hoses to ensure seamless hydraulic fluid delivery and zero leakages into the pristine coastal waters, this rig proves that heavy civil infrastructure can successfully coexist with rigid ecological preservation. 

The entire Santa Cruz community, from the regional commuters who rely on this crossing to the marine enthusiasts utilizing the harbor below, owes a great debt of gratitude to Shimmick Construction Company for their meticulous care in safeguarding both the city's future and its natural ecosystem. International Construction Equipment also shares in this immense pride, thanking Shimmick for trusting our specialized foundation machinery to anchor this monumental civic achievement. Together, this partnership is successfully laying a quiet, secure, and resilient foundation that will safely carry the central coast forward for generations to come. 

Learn more about the ICE® 44

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Media Contact-             
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA          
Vice President        
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc          
The Hose Company        
Office - 704-821-8200       
Email - marketing@iceusa.com / info@hydraulichose.com