Summer Bridge Festival
 

It so happens that much of the construction from the last 3 years is starting to bear fruit and riders will benefit, especially in the next few months.

I-5 HOV Project
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Shoemaker Bridge is now open (as of June 1). For northbound riding over the I-5 onto Rosecrans, east out to La Mirada Blvd or VV this is a good, safe choice. Southbound, not so much.

In the next few weeks, Alondra Bridge will reopen, making it possible to get to northbound Valley View (VV) from Moody/Carmenita.

405 HOV Project
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Seal Beach Blvd bridge is now open with 7 lanes. I rode it last sunday (North) 3 times. On the 3rd time I hit 35 MPH and took the center lane, by passing all the cars lining up to go right onto Lampson. There are still some k-rails (northbound) filling the bike lane but they are past the summit and don't pose a huge problem.

<quote>There are still some k-rails (northbound) filling the bike lane but they are past the summit and don't pose a huge problem.</quote>

I was so busy riding this bridge to think about the location of the k-rails. They are placed there to close the onramp to the 405 (splaps forehead, duh). In fact, this onramp closure makes it safer for us since the drivers are not competing for the space at speed.

Mark your calendars - one month from now Alondra bridge will reopen. But before it does, a lot of pain will be felt when trying to travel through this area.

The Marquadt/Alondra intersection is completely closed. I don't know if a bike can sneak through - have not tried it.

This article is only 3 hours old:
Caltrans closes Alondra-Marquardt intersection for 5 Freeway widening

I-5 HOV Project
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PPB=Private Pedestrian Bridge

After a 1.25 year closure, Alondra Bridge over the I-5 has reopened perhaps 5 days earlier than expected. Freeway Drive is also opened so riders can cut through the Industrial Park next to the SFS Swap Meet to get to Rosecrans.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=402881 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=402882
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=402883 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=402884

After reading the Top Post by Leo last night, I checked for any announcements on Swap Meet web site, and yes, they say the Bridge is open.

So I rode up this morning to get some photos and see for myself. The big question is: what is the condition of the CC bike path? Pic3 shows an overhead of the path section going north from the bridge. It is still covered in 5 feet of dirt and it is completely blocked by the PPB further ahead.

No part of the CC bike path is accessible from Alondra Blvd or from the Swap Meet grounds. I rode into the SM grounds looking for a gate or break in the fence leading to the bike path, but sadly there was none. However, the PPB was open and free of security, but crossing it gives a rider no advantage over other choices.

The SM will only benefit from the PPB when there are overflow conditions in their main parking lot. Riders will never benefit from the lame PPB. In fact, it is blocking the CC bike path.

As you can see, Alondra has 3 lanes in each direction, but no striped shoulder or bike lanes. This may change soon enough - we know that Caltrans has heard from riders about the importance of these things.

Good news: riders have regained 2 more ways to get through the I-5 project zone and crossover the I-5.

Bad news: now that Alondra is open again, Caltrans will start working on the Valley View bridge and may close it.

Thanks for the update. Bummed to hear that you cannot get on Alondra CCT to Seal Beach yet. Hope they clean it up soon.

Chances are you know this, but for those looking for access to the trail:

the point closest to Alondra Bridge is still the gate at Mike Thompson RV on the Firestone frontage road. From V.V. side, go over the Alondra Bridge, then left at Marquadt, quick left onto the frontage road, and finally after a quarter-mile, right into the gate next to the CC and the RV place.

Bike path access from Alondra

there is now a ramp on the south side of the bridge that joins a driveway from Freeway Dr. to the bike path. They moved a lot of dirt to do this. The driveway is not only for the bikes, but it forks off to the right onto a service road for the freeway.
Access to the bike path is still fenced off, but not for long.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=407688 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=407689

Pic1 shows the ramp from the Bridge, across from the Freeway Dr. signal.
Pic2 shows the bike path as it goes under the bridge towards the Swap Meet (still covered with dirt).
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=407690 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=407691

Pic3 & Pic4 show the Hillsborough extension of CC bike path down to Rosecrans.

I saw about 10 roadies using the Alondra bridge heading east to Escalona to go north to Whittier. It seems like most of them are avoiding Valley View and Carmenita (above Alondra).