The replacement bridge over Zaca Creek on Jonata Park Road is on budget and could be completed before Jan. 21, 2008, weather permitting, according to a county official.

Santa Barbara County spokesman William Boyer said the old bridge has been demolished and the BbasicsC of the new bridge are in place.

Crews are working roadway grading and pavement at both approaches to the bridge and rocks are being placed into the creek for slope protection against erosion.

The ,1.6 million Santa Barbara County Public Works Department project to replace the 1960-era bridge began on June 25.

Federal funding from the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program will cover nearly ,1.4 million of that cost while matching Measure D funds of about ,200,000 will cover the balance.

Public works officials found the bridge to be structurally deficient. The bridge received a two on a scale of 1 to 100 in a rating system that judges bridge health.