City Celebrates Groundbreaking of Bike Path Extension in Elysian Valley

Councilmen Garcetti and Reyes Celebrate the Groundbreaking with city staff and future path users. Photo: Creek Freak

Yesterday, the city officially broke ground on a three mile extension of the L.A. River Bike Path that will take the path from its current terminus at Fletcher Drive all the way to Barclay Drive.  While it’s true that you can currently bike along the river in this area; the “path” is in terrible condition with water collecting in dips, uneven surfaces and tree roots forcing themselves through the asphalt.  These obstacles create a rough ride for anyone looking to ride along one of the most scenic parts of the L.A. River.

Joe Linton at the Creek Freak blog covers not only yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony, but in a post from last November researched the “tortured” histories of this segment and another for the West San Fernando Valley.  Officially the Elysian extension should be open in six months, but Linton reports that it could be early 2010 before it’s completed.

Construction should be underway this week, with the most significant
part of the project being the construction of an underpass below
Fletcher Drive. The project is supposed to take six months to complete,
though it was suggested that that is slightly optimistic, and could
easily take up to eight months. Pardon the dust, and look for a brand
new bikeway opening in January or February 2010!

Regardless of the exact date of the opening, this has been a good week for L.A. cyclists.  Combined with last week’s installment of new bike parking throughout the Downtown and Westside, that’s two stories about better bike facilities in one seven day period!