FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Hearing to Be Held on Bridge Proposals

A public hearing on the controversial bridges proposed to cross the Santa Ana River between Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa and another linking Newport Beach and Huntington Beach will be held Tuesday at the City Council meeting.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, at 10200 Slater Ave.

One proposed bridge, at Garfield and Gisler avenues, would link the cities of Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa, while another, at 19th Street and Banning Avenue, would connect Newport Beach and Huntington Beach.

Residents in those cities have opposed the construction of the bridges, which are part of the county’s master plan of arterial highways. A third proposed bridge, at Atlanta Avenue and Wilson Street, is also part of the county’s master plan of highways.

Opponents want the bridges deleted from the county’s master plan because they believe the crossings would increase traffic in their neighborhoods.

A county study to determine the feasibility, benefits and costs of the bridges was recently completed. The study found that building the bridges would help to reduce future traffic volumes on area streets.

If the bridge at Garfield and Gisler avenues were built, it would divert traffic from Ellis and Talbert avenues, said Wayne S. Osborne, Fountain Valley’s director of public works. It would also provide easier access to the San Diego Freeway from Ward Street, Osborne said.

Osborne said, however, that the bridge would increase traffic at Brookhurst Street and Garfield Avenue as well as Bushard Street and Garfield.

The bridge study is expected to be presented to the Board of Supervisors next month.

Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, in a letter to the county Planning Commission Nov. 3, said she supports removing the bridges from the master plan of arterial highways.

For more information about the hearing, call the city’s Public Works Department at (714) 965-4434.