Q: I notice that the city is doing work on a new bridge over the Kern River south of Stockdale Highway at the current south end of Allen Road. Some questions:
Why during low city financial periods are we working on this project?
What is the reason for this bridge, at this time Allen Road south does not exist between Ming and the current end of Allen south of Stockdale Highway.
Also with no development going on in the area, who is paying for the road and bridge? 
 — Dan Brito

A: The bridge is only part of the $11 million project, which includes extending Allen Road all the way to Ming Avenue.
The city has been saving up for this project, which is being paid for by a mix of transportation development fees and state bond money, said Arnold Ramming, a civil engineer with the city. The development fees come from not immediately adjacent development, but from development in the larger region, since the street will be used by residents traveling north-south in a wide area.
He pointed to himself as an example.
“I live down near the intersection of Ming and Ashe,” Ramming said. “When I go visit my friend at Rosedale and Renfro, I will be using this bridge.”
Because of the source of the money, the city couldn’t use it to pay for employee salaries even if it wanted to, Ramming said.