The bridge provides a key linkage between trails that extend from the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains and Cleveland National Forest.
IRVINE, Calif. (August 11, 2026): The City of Irvine expanded its trail network today with the opening of the Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST) Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge, as elected officials, City staff, cyclists, and community members were the first to walk and ride onto the bridge following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At nearly 1,200 feet long and 15 feet wide, it is the largest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Irvine. It spans Walnut Avenue, the Jeffrey Road Park & Ride, and the I-5 Freeway. It also connects to the Jeffrey Open Space Trail and Cypress Village Trail to the north and the JOST extension to the south.
The bridge is part of a larger regional trail network that extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains and Cleveland National Forest, providing greater access for people walking and biking throughout Irvine and beyond.
“The Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge marks an important milestone in Irvine’s long-term vision for a connected and sustainable community,” said Mayor Larry Agran. “At nearly 1,200 feet, the bridge completes a vital 5-mile corridor through the heart of our City, giving residents a safer, healthier, and more enjoyable way to walk, bike, and connect with their neighborhoods and our remarkable open spaces. This project reflects Irvine’s longstanding commitment to thoughtful planning, environmental stewardship, and creating a community designed around the well-being of the people who live here.”
U.S. Representative Dave Min, who secured $14.5 million in state funding for the project while serving as State Senator, recalled that the City of Irvine approached him in 2021 about finding funding to connect the JOST across I-5. “It’s very challenging to get from this section of the trail across the I-5,” Min said. “It’s very dangerous because it’s a major highway.” With the new bridge, Min said, residents can now “in theory, go from the Cleveland National Forest all the way to the Pacific Ocean” by bike, running, or hiking. “The open spaces, the trails here in Irvine and Orange County are part of what makes Orange County so special,” he said. “Being able to create a safe connection across the I-5 is really just a fun thing to be able to see.”
The Jeffrey Open Space Trail opened in 2015 with 3.5 miles of meandering trails featuring art installations that highlight the history of the area. In March 2024, work began on the bridge and a trail extension aimed at filling a gap within the trail system. The trail has been extended from Walnut to Smoke Tree and will eventually reach Barranca Parkway.
The project was supported by $14.5 million in state funding secured by U.S. Representative Dave Min (CA-47) when he served as State Senator. Caltrans provided an additional $5,056,000 for the project.
The JOST bridge includes 2,400 linear feet of steel truss railing, 40 custom-designed decorative steel plate light poles, landscaping, and 300 linear feet of decorative concrete block walls featuring Italian Villa Stone Veneer.
To put its size into perspective, the bridge stretches more than three football fields in length, the equivalent of five Boeing 747s lined up, or four times the height of the Statue of Liberty.
