Temporary bridge may be long term Santa Barbara congestion solution

A temporary bridge over Mission Creek during a larger project nearby, may be an answer the City of Santa Barbara has been looking for where a congestion problem occurs often.

This is not for cars but walkers, runners, bikes, surreys, skate boarders and roller bladers.

It is a bottleneck some days near Stearns Wharf.

A larger creek and bridge project is underway and to keep people moving, a temporary bridge was installed. It is closer to the ocean between Cabrillo Boulevard and the water line to the east of Stearns Wharf.

Now, the city hopes in the end, both projects will stay and the uses sorted out, mainly for safety reasons.

Bike rider Dan Mercer says it is a good idea. “I know that so many cities when you go around the country, they separate. They make that exact separation.”

Santa Barbara still has many approvals and permits to clear on the idea, along with a presentation to the California Coastal Commission. It’s confident the project will be accepted.

One requirement already discussed includes the city agreeing to pay for the removal if the sea level rises there to the level of the bridge. By some estimates that could occur sometime between 2030 and 2060.