NEWPORT BEACH : Pedestrian Bridge Stalled by Council

Long-disputed plans to build a pedestrian bridge across MacArthur Boulevard between Corona del Mar and the rest of Newport Beach were put on hold this week.

The delay upset residents who have lobbied for the bridge as a safe way to cross the thoroughfare and pleased others who say it would be an ugly eyesore and ruin scenic ocean views.

The bridge would cross over MacArthur at Crown Drive, which would be extended to meet the boulevard. It is part of a bigger proposal to widen MacArthur from Coast Highway to the Corona del Mar Freeway. The widening is intended in part to handle traffic from the proposed San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor.

The City Council on Monday approved plans to go ahead with the street improvement project but stalled the proposed bridge after a number of residents addressed both sides of the issue.

Those in favor of the bridge are many homeowners in nearby neighborhoods who say the bridge would offer a safe route across the busy road.

“It would be used casually, by people, or by children and students on bicycles,” said resident Janet Fossum, adding that travelers would miss the ocean view for only about five to eight seconds as they drive under the bridge.

“If it saves one life, I think it’s worth it,” she added.

However, those opposed said the bridge would be a distasteful entrance to the city and would ruin the view of the ocean that is offered to drivers southbound on MacArthur.

Resident Anne Carlsen told the council of a time when she was a young girl whose family vacationed in Newport Beach. She said that every time her family drove down MacArthur, she and her sister would play a game to see who could glimpse the wave crests first.

“It’s the entrance to our city--to Newport Beach and Corona del Mar,” Carlsen said, “and it would be an eyesore.”