In The Pipeline:

“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”

— Isaac Newton

As you read here in the paper last week, after seven years and more than half a million dollars, it had finally arrived — the 70,000-pound, 145-foot steel pedestrian bridge that will now connect the mesa to the parking adjacent to the Bolsa Chica Conservancy. It didn’t matter that the morning was cool and drizzly (though the soft ground did seem to add some challenges for the workers). Just after 11 a.m., when the behemoth crane (with an appropriate “Mr. Crane” logo) lifted the bridge and swung it around into the place, some sun had even started breaking through, as if to herald the new era.

Several dozen people had gathered on the shore to watch and take pictures, and the event had the feeling of a small-town community event. Many of the spectators, of course, were people connected to the cause, including Amigos de Bolsa Chica members who, for years, have volunteered thousands of hours to help preserve and protect the wetlands. Their expressions alone were worth the waiting in the rain.

Bonnie Turner, senior public lands management specialist with the Wildlife Conservation Board in Sacramento (and the project manager), was there as well. For her, this has been a particularly dedicated project, and she shared this with me: “It felt really wonderful watching this bridge move over the landscape onto the abutments and listening to all the people shouting their approval. It’s taken so long to complete and I was so happy that the project was successful. Now, over the next week or so, the concrete will be laid on the steel understructure and the handrails applied, and the native landscape planted, so this is coming to a close after 5-1/2 years of a long, long process to make sure everything was done right and according to environmental and coastal laws. I’m thrilled that so many groups and people gave of their energy, time, and money to support this project . . . it could never have been completed without their support.