Hikers and bikers, take note. Irvine’s master-planned trail system – already tops in the county – just got better.
A new pedestrian bridge over the 133 toll road extends the popular Venta Spur Trail from its origin in Northpark Village to the Great Park and beyond.
The $6.8 million bridge connects the end of Venta Spur Trail, at Sable and Emberglow in Woodbury East, to a trail along Benchmark in Beacon Park. From there, pedestrians and cyclists can access 1.5 miles of trails in The Bosque open space or continue to the Great Park sports complex, cultural terrace or Wild Rivers water park.
The 3-mile Venta Spur Trail follows the former route of a railroad spur that serviced several citrus packinghouses in the early 1900s.
The new pedestrian bridge is Irvine’s 34th pedestrian bridge – with a 35th on the way.
The city also is constructing a pedestrian bridge over the I-5 freeway to extend the 3.5-mile Jeffrey Open Space Trail another 1.5 miles south – from Walnut Avenue to Barranca Parkway. There, it will connect with the San Diego Creek Trail, which crosses the city, and allow hikers and bikers to continue south to Quail Hill, Bommer Canyon and even Crystal Cove.
When complete, that will create Irvine’s second trail running from the mountains to the sea.
