[KHTS] – Assemblyman Scott Wilk’s bill to name the Golden Valley Road bridge over State Route 14 in the city of Santa Clarita as the “Connie Worden-Roberts Memorial Bridge” has cleared both houses of the Legislature unanimously.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 89 establishes the name and directs Caltrans to cost out and install signage. Sen. Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, is the principal co-author. Concurrent resolutions express the will of the Legislature and do not require the governor’s signature.

Sen. Sharon Runner

“I’m thrilled that Connie’s legacy will be forever engrained in our community. Her tireless effort to build the cross-valley connector will never be forgotten,” said Wilk, R-Santa Clarita. “Connie Worden-Roberts demonstrated extraordinary service to the Santa Clarita Valley community and it’s a privilege to carry legislation on her behalf.”

Connie Worden-Roberts

Worden-Roberts championed the development of the valley’s transportation network for nearly four decades, serving as the vice-chair of the city of Santa Clarita Formation Committee and serving on the city’s first planning commission. She also served as chairwoman of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County, founder of the Valley Industry Association, former chairwoman of the board and director of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of many more community organizations. She died Aug. 12, 2014.

“My family thanks the City Council for coming up with the idea to honor my mother in this way, and we appreciate Assemblyman Wilk and both Senators Runner for the hard work they and their staffs have done for our community over the years,” said SCVTV President Leon Worden, son of Worden-Roberts.

Worden-Roberts (in red) at a ribbon cutting for the cross-valley connector in 2010.

“It’s rather poetic, when you think about it,” he said. “One of my mother’s big achievements was consistently getting the various agencies – city, county, state, feds – and private business to sit down at the table together to fund and build roads like the cross-valley connector. In the end, naming this particular bridge for her required multi-agency collaboration between the city and the state.”

Worden-Roberts helped push for the city’s formation, funding for the cross-valley connector and for the original clubhouse of the Santa Clarita Valley Boys & Girls Club. Worden-Roberts was named Santa Clarita Valley Woman of the Year in 1975.

“Connie Worden-Roberts fought courageously for issues important to the city of Santa Clarita for decades, working to make it one of the best places to live in the state,” Runner said in a previous news release. “She gave her all to her community and deserves to have her contributions recognized.”

The Golden Valley Road bridge is currently being widened to accommodate more traffic. Two traffic lanes are being added – one in each direction – for a total of four through lanes on the overpass, as well as a dedicated left-turn lane to access southbound SR-14 and two left turn lanes to access northbound SR-14.

The project will also add a pedestrian walkway on the north side of the bridge and a bike path on the south side of the bridge.

To watch the expansion of the Golden Valley Road bridge online, check out the city’s live [Construction Cam].