Hope Ranch Annex bridge getting facelift, safety improvements

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A bridge on Nueces Drive is getting a facelift. The small passageway in a Hope Ranch Annex neighborhood connects two dead-ends for bicyclists and pedestrians. It's located around 4510 Nueces Drive.

Whether the bridge's users are bicyclists, joggers or four-legged walkers, it has a lot of fans.

Elise Dale said she walks over the bridge about three times a week. “It’s a really rural feeling. And it’s just cool. We get a little bit of a breeze from the ocean in this neighborhood. So I really like walking over here.”

The bridge is supposed to be closed to cars. But lately, Santa Barbara County has received complaints of cars and motorcycles going over the bridge.

Bill Werlin lives next to the bridge. He said, “I wouldn’t want to tell you that it’s rampant. But it does happen. And it only takes once. It can be that odd occurrence or that serendipitous in a negative sense timing that he takes out a pedestrian or a bicyclist.”

To prevent a car crossing Santa Barbara County has repaved the road, added a diamond island base and will add a large sign reading “no motor vehicles”. But bicyclists think it could cause another problem.

Noleta bicyclist, Gail Hubbell, said, “I don’t really like that diamond there. Because I feel like eventually, I mean if a bicyclist touches that they’re down. And there are a lot of kids and a lot of people who aren’t that skilled on a bicycle and people coming through at night. And to me, I’d rather it not be there.”

Long-time Nueces Drive resident, Cheryl Hempy, said, “I’m concerned about the island on the other side of the bridge. That little kids are going to crash into it.”

There used to be a metal post at the bridge. But, a cyclist hit the post and got injured. The county removed the post after the collision.

Some in the neighborhood think signs throughout the neighborhood would be a better solution.

“The bicyclists who are trying to do times," said Dale, "and they just blow past you and it’s really hard to get a dog out of the way or my lumbering beach bike out of the way of those guys. So it will probably slow them down.”

Another concern is the speed of e-bikers. Neighbors and walkers complained of e-bikers riding too quickly and coming up on others too quietly.

Neighbors do agree cars don’t belong on this bridge. And everyone who does use the bridge should take it slow to keep it safe.

The county plans to finish its work on the bridge passageway next Wednesday.

Neighbors are encouraged to reach out to the county via email if they have any questions or comments about the bridge.