A long-awaited pedestrian bridge over the 5 Freeway, the final stretch of the Jeffrey Open Space Trail in Irvine, is expected to break ground in January.
The Jeffrey Open Space Trail stretches 3.5 miles, cutting through the center of the city adjacent to Jeffrey Road. The bridge, slated to be completed by late 2025 or early 2026, according to city manager Oliver Chi, is part of the 1.5-mile extension of the JOST that will run from Barranca Parkway to the 5 Freeway.
The walking and biking path will be approximately 1,200 feet long with a 15-foot wide enclosed walkway. It will also feature an LED deck and accent lighting in the nighttime.
“This is a crucial step in completing the JOST and linking trails that extend from the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains and Cleveland National Park,” said Darrell Hartman, the city’s senior civil engineer.
When completed, the bicycle and pedestrian bridge will span the 5, the Jeffrey Road Park and Ride Lot off the freeway and Walnut Avenue south of Jeffrey Road. It will connect the gap between the northern Cypress Village Trail to the JOST extension, finally bringing to a close a project that’s been in the works for the past two decades.
The project completes the JOST and finishes the linkage to get over the 5, Chi said.
A separate project also in the works will extend the northernmost tip of the JOST, which stops at the southern end of Portola Parkway, all the way to the Gateway Preserve by way of another pedestrian bridge. Construction on that project is slated to begin next year as well.
“What you’ll be able to do is go from the northernmost tip of Irvine, which will be at the entry of the city’s northern Open Space location, all the way down to the Crystal Cove without ever having to cross the street,” Chi said. “It’s a fabulous piece of new infrastructure and a spectacular achievement for the community.”
The origin of the lush, scenic trail dates back to 1988, when Irvine voters…
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