Placer County Department of Public Works, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans, proposes to build a new arch suspension bridge adjacent to the existing Yankee Jims Bridge over the North Fork American River. The existing bridge is structurally deficient based on a Caltrans Bridge Inspection, which prohibits emergency vehicles from using the bridge. The new bridge will improve emergency access and provide a safer evacuation route between Colfax and Foresthill. The existing Yankee Jims Bridge will be kept in place.

A Notice of Preparation for a Draft Environmental Impact Report, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, was held for the project in February of 2020. At this time two alternatives were being considered, a steel plate girder bridge and an arch suspension bridge. Since this time, the project team has completed a comprehensive analysis and ultimately selected the arch suspension bridge as the preferred alternative.