Pedestrian Bridge Project Near Aliso Niguel Moves Forward

The city is reporting that preliminary plans for a pedestrian bridge project designed to ease traffic near Aliso Niguel High School recently received the green light from the City Council.

The Council directed staff on Nov. 20 to move forward with an environmental study that would include a traffic analysis for the proposed bridge over Aliso Creek from Laguna Niguel to Aliso Niguel High, according to a news release issued by the city.

Traffic around the school has been an issue for years, and the City has worked with Police Services and high school staff to change the traffic flow in and out of the school during peak drop-off and pickup times but significant problems still exist.

Since many students who attend the high school live in Laguna Niguel, a drop-off location was created several years ago on Aliso Creek Road just west of Alicia Parkway. Although it is functional, it is not ideal for cars to stack up along Aliso Creek Road.  The City established four additional drop-off locations at Aliso Creek Road and Wolverine Way (Aliso Viejo Parkway), but they have not yet been heavily used.

A pedestrian bridge over Aliso Creek near the south end of the high school property has been considered in the past to establish a new drop-off area within the Laguna Niguel Skateboard and Soccer Park parking lots. The bridge would be located on county property within the City of Laguna Niguel, so staff is working with that city to support the bridge concept. City staff will discuss any findings with Laguna Niguel staff.

Information provided by the City of Aliso Viejo through a city issued news release.