Branciforte Creek Bike/Pedestrian Bridge to Open In Sept.

From The City of Santa Cruz Public Works: The City of Santa Cruz is scheduled to open the Branciforte Creek Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Project for public use on Friday, Sept. 1, by 12 noon. On Thursday, Sept. 28, there will be a formal ribbon-cutting at 12 noon to celebrate completion of the project which includes a bike and pedestrian bridge and path from San Lorenzo Park over Branciforte Creek and under the Soquel Avenue Bridge to meet the existing Riverwalk path.

The project will help to increase walking, biking and safety in Santa Cruz while serving a wide spectrum of active transportation users. The new multi-use path connects the levee trail south of the Soquel Avenue Bridge completing the gap in the 5-mile Riverwalk system that runs north-south through the center of Santa Cruz.

Construction, completed two months ahead of schedule, has included a prefabricated 126-foot long bridge. Decomposed granite shoulders and lights have been recently installed with two more decorative lights on order. Plantings along the trail will be completed by the end of September and fill-in over the next year.

The project was conceived in the 1987 San Lorenzo River Design Concept Plan and is part of the City’s approved Active Transportation Plan (formerly the Bike Plan) and Capital Improvement Program. An extensive public process was completed through the City’s Transportation and Public Works Commission to select the alignment and design.

Construction was funded by a $1.8 million California State Active Transportation Program grant and $400,000 in local Gas Tax funds.

Photos courtesy of the City of Santa Cruz Public Works:

(Images 1-3) Branciforte Creek Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Project
(Image 4) Construction of Branciforte Creek Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Project
(Image 5) Installation of Branciforte Creek Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge