Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Residents Protest Plan to Construct Bridge : Development: Demonstrators say extending Wiley Canyon Road over the Santa Clara River will bring too much traffic into their Valencia neighborhood.

About 175 adults and children marched Monday from their Valencia neighborhood to an elementary school a mile away, protesting a proposed bridge that will bring more traffic into their community.

The bridge would extend Wiley Canyon Road over the Santa Clara River and connect with a lengthened Via Princessa. City officials expect the $22-million project to improve traffic conditions in the center of the city.

Protesters fear that more traffic will disrupt their quiet neighborhood and endanger hundreds of children who walk or ride bicycles to schools.

“We don’t want to make this (Wiley Canyon Road) a freeway,” said Ira Lieberman, a resident of the Valencia Hills neighborhood. “This is the only walkway kids have to go to school.”

Protesters walked from Avenida Capella and Wiley Canyon Road in Valencia to Wiley Canyon School in Newhall, chanting “stop the bridge.” Dozens of marchers carried placards with “Keep our quality of life,” “Our safety first” and “No bridge” printed in large letters. Several adults walked with young children.

The procession was orderly, snaking along sidewalks and occasionally onto the pavement. The march lasted about 30 minutes and drew occasional waves and honks from motorists.

Protesters said the Santa Clarita City Council should pick an alternative: the extension of Magic Mountain Parkway into Via Princessa. That route, which city officials are also considering, would extend traffic through a business district in Newhall. It is 3.75 miles long and would cost $32 million.

“Why go through an existing community when there’s undeveloped land still available?” said Pat Thompson, a Valencia Hills resident. “My feeling is (city officials) are not listening. I think they’re having other incentives rather than serving the people, which is what they’re supposed to.”

City traffic engineer Tony Nisich said both routes are viable, and both are listed in Santa Clarita’s General Plan for eventual construction.

He agreed the Wiley Canyon Bridge would divert traffic into the Valencia Hills area, but said the improved circulation will actually help reduce the likelihood of accidents throughout the city.

“There will be more traffic there, but it won’t be a safety problem,” Nisich said. “If it would, we wouldn’t do it.”

Either route will take about a year to design and another 18 months to build, he said.

The Santa Clarita City Council is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m.