SLO installs new pedestrian-bicycle bridge as part of Railroad Safety Trail project
The city of San Luis Obispo began installing a new pedestrian-bicycle bridge at the intersection of Pepper Street and Phillips Lane Friday as part of its ongoing Railroad Safety Trail project.
The new bridge will provide a crossing over the train tracks when finished.
On Friday, a crane helped lower a key structure of the bridge into place, with additional construction yet to come ahead of expected completion in November, said Matt Horn, director of Public Works.
“People will be able to start using the bridge once it’s finished,” Horn said. “It will be a key piece of the trail for people to get over the tracks.”
“This bridge will be the next step toward completion of the northern portion of the Railroad Safety Trail, from Cal Poly (at the stadium) to downtown (currently, the Mill and Pepper intersection),” said Bryan Wheeler, a transportation planner, in an email. “This section is approximately one mile long, and a further project to extend into downtown in the future is in development.”
The next phase of construction is budgeted for next year and, once finished, will provide a continuous bikeway from the southern end of the city at Orcutt Road through downtown and to Cal Poly, according to city officials.
“This path is intended to link neighborhoods with major destinations in San Luis Obispo and provide opportunities for recreational bicycling, walking and roller blading, free from conflicts with motor vehicles,” the city said in a news release.
The release also noted that the city’s network of bikeways will link to county bike routes to further expand its reach.
This story was originally published October 23, 2021 at 10:00 AM.
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