[KHTS] – City of Santa Clarita representatives met Thursday to celebrate the completion of the McBean Bridge Widening and Bike Path Project.

Mayor Laurene Weste, Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean, Councilmembers Bob Kellar, TimBen Boydston, Dante Acosta, METRO representative Anne Kerman and residents of Santa
Clarita attended the event held Thursday morning near Creekside Road.

“About 50 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony including a bunch of cyclists from theSanta Clarita Valley Bicycle Coalition,” said Christina McGoldrick, communications specialist for the city of Santa Clarita.

The McBean Bridge Widening and Bike Path Project included the widening of the McBean Parkway Bridge to eight lanes to improve traffic flow, the addition of a raised landscaped median and asphalt improvements.

“The McBean Parkway Bridge is one of the most heavily-traveled corridors in the City of Santa Clarita,” said Mayor Laurene Weste. “This project will help reduce congestion on the roadway, and provides a direct link between the South River and Santa Clara River Trails to benefit the many residents who enjoy biking, walking and running along them.”

The project also added a dedicated bike path on the bridge to connect the Santa Clara River Trail and the South River Trail, and
added a trail connection beneath the north side of the bridge to connect the east and west portions of the Santa Clara River Trail.

The project began last year.

The project was approved in June 2013 along with the Newhall roundabout project and the Sand Canyon Road gateway beautification project.

Additionally, McBean Parkway from Avenue Scott toMagic Mountain Parkway was repaved and a landscaped median was added from Avenue Scott to Creekside Road.