Venta Spur Trail/Jeffrey Open Space Trail Pedestrian Bridge

Roux was retained as the environmental subcontractor to Psomas, on behalf of the City of Irvine, to provide due diligence and environmental planning support for the Venta Spur Trail/Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST) Pedestrian Bridge project. The project delivers a grade-separated pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Jeffrey Road, connecting two major Class I bicycle facilities and improving safe active transportation access for the Northwood, Woodbury, and Stonegate communities.

The bridge location was identified through the City’s Strategic Active Transportation Plan and Bridge Prioritization Study, which ranked the crossing as the highest-priority candidate location. Because the project required Caltrans approval and included a formerly developed parcel at 13242 Jeffrey Road, Roux structured the Initial Site Assessment (ISA) to meet Caltrans requirements while following ASTM E1527-21 standards, providing an evaluation comparable to a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.

Roux’s work incorporated a review of historical maps, aerial photographs, city directories, regulatory database records, and agency files, along with site reconnaissance performed in October 2024. The assessment documented the Site’s agricultural history, its former use as part of the Irvine Valencia Growers packing facility, and the former Santa Fe Railroad Venta Spur that crossed the property before being repurposed into a trail corridor.

The ISA identified two recognized environmental conditions: potential subsurface impacts associated with the former rail spur, including metals, PAHs/creosote, PCBs, pesticides, VOCs, and petroleum-related constituents; and potential residual pesticides, herbicides, and arsenic in soils associated with historic agricultural use. Nearby closed underground storage tank (UST)/leaking underground storage tank (LUST( cases were also evaluated as other environmental features, all with regulatory No Further Action status. Roux then prepared a Preliminary Site Investigation Work Plan and site-specific Health & Safety Plan consistent with Caltrans Environmental Reporting Guidance.

Roux delivered a Caltrans-compliant environmental clearance pathway that helped keep the project moving toward agency approval and construction. Following City and Caltrans review, the ISA was approved without requiring additional sampling, avoiding costly delay while providing responsive support to Psomas and the City of Irvine. The completed bicycle and pedestrian bridge celebrated its public grand opening on August 11, 2026, demonstrating successful delivery of a priority public active transportation improvement.