When the city of Irvine celebrated the grand opening of the 1,200-foot Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge, it marked more than a new crossing over the busy 5 freeway to avoid surface streets. It signaled a significant expansion to Irvine’s trail and bike path system. A trail that mainly served North Irvine soon will become a continuous greenbelt connecting across the city.
As the ribbon fell, local runners, cyclists and families stepped onto the sweeping span to experience their first trip across. Oak Creek resident Jay Sato’s first impression? “The fact that the bridge is curved is amazing.” Sato says he “can’t wait to ride it at night when the bridge lights are on.”
For Woodbridge resident Cheryl Evans, the opening of the new bridge was decades in the making. “I’ve been waiting for this for 25 or 30 years,” Evans says. A former Woodbridge High School cross-country coach for more than 20 years, she recalls how local runners once had to navigate old orange groves. “Having a safe crossing over the freeway enlarges the area where we can go. You’re always looking for safe places for kids to run, and when you have distance runners, you need a good, safe 10 miles or so.”…