Tollway Protesters Spend Day High Way : Demonstration: Four Earth First! activists tie themselves to 200-foot-high cranes to block Foothill project. Rain had halted work so no one is arrested.

Earth First! activists, in their first major protest against the Foothill tollway project, tied themselves Tuesday atop 200-foot-high cranes being used to build a bridge over O’Neill Regional Park.

Joined by 25 to 30 demonstrators on the ground, the protesters hung two banners from the cranes, one reading: “No More Roads! Earth First!”

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the construction site, but no arrests were made because the protesters didn’t interrupt work, which had been halted anyway because of rain and muddy conditions, officials said.

“When the sheriff got there, it was decided to let the protesters stay because they weren’t posing any problem,” said Lisa Telles, with the Transportation Corridor Agencies. “There was a decision not to arrest them.”

A sheriff’s unit did remain at the site throughout the day to keep the peace and prevent any injuries. There was a minor scuffle before deputies arrived.

By 4 p.m., the activists had climbed safely from the cranes and left the site, operated by FCI Constructors of Del Mar.

Although this was the first such major demonstration against the Foothill tollway, a 30-mile thoroughfare from San Clemente to Tustin, it was not the first time Earth First! activists have chained themselves to toll-road construction equipment.

Eight activists were arrested and charged with trespassing last September after they chained themselves to earth movers at a San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor construction site in Laguna Niguel. Firefighters had to cut the activists free using “Jaws of Life” equipment.

The San Joaquin Hills project, separate from the Foothill tollway, is scheduled to connect Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano to the Corona del Mar Freeway in Newport Beach by March, 1997.

This latest demonstration began before dawn when four activists, using harnesses and other gear, climbed nearly to the top of three cranes sitting next to the 1,400-foot-long bridge project spanning the Arroyo Trabuco near the Santa Margarita Parkway.

Another two activists used bike locks to chain themselves by the neck to lower sections of the cranes.

Although largely peaceful, the demonstration was marked by what some described as a shoving match between a crane operator and a couple of activists. Both sides claim the altercation was sparked by the other.

Earth First! said the dramatic act was designed to halt bridge work for the day and to make a public statement against construction through the wilderness area.

“This is our home,” said activist Patrick Mitchell. “We’re fed up with developers, county politicians and state politicians running wild.

“There is no need for any more of this,” he continued. “All this is going to do is make for more crime, more pollution and more traffic. This road will perpetuate reasons why people are leaving Orange County.”

Said activist Rita Mehta, who was chained to one of the cranes, “If they keep this up, there will be no land left for the next generation.”

Transportation officials, however, say the Foothill tollway is needed to ease traffic congestion in South Orange County. About 8,000 cars travel each day along the first segment of the tollway, completed in October, linking Lake Forest to Irvine.

The bridge project is part of the 4.3-mile-long second segment of the corridor, expected to open by mid-1995 and costing about $64.5 million. The second segment will eventually link Rancho Santa Margarita and Irvine.

Officials also say many steps, including construction of the bridge far above the wilderness park, have been taken to minimize any effects on the environment.