Residents Work to Repair Pedestrian Bridge in Rustic Canyon
A rendering showing how the Rustic Canyon Bridge would look after proposed repairs
By Laurel Busby
News & Information Editor
The pedestrian bridge that allows bikers and walkers to cross a creek between Upper Latimer Rd. and Sunset Blvd. needs repairs to remain safe and open to the public, according to Robyn Buecker, the president of the area’s homeowners’ association, The Uplifters Roads, Inc.
“I got really emotional about the bridge after the fires,” Buecker said. “It’s the connector to Sunset, to Will Rogers [State Historic Park]…. It’s the way to walk to Palisades Village. We need to keep that connection while the Palisades is being rebuilt. I would hate to cut off that access point for people.”
Located on private property overseen by the homeowners’ association, which is composed of about 70 families, the bridge will require $253,000 to repair, Buecker said. Some of its wood is rotting, and the right side is listing. The goal is to retain the wooden look of the bridge while using longer-lasting materials—prefabricated steel with a weathered wood finish.
Another rendering of proposed changes to Rustic Canyon Bridge
A Jan. meeting about the project was attended by about 60 people, who mostly expressed a desire to maintain the current look of the bridge, Buecker said.
“It’s such a beautiful piece of land and property,” she noted.
About two years ago, nearby residents noticed problems with the bridge, and the association started investigating repair options, Buecker said. The bridge resides on private land owned by two property owners, but public access is maintained through an easement.
Because permitting and engineering requirements have changed since the bridge was built about 40 years ago, the cost to repair it to modern standards is more than some residents expected, Buecker said. The total cost, which was attained through a bidding process with licensed, insured contractors, is as follows:
Excel Bridge Manufacturing Co. — $89,000
Boulder Contracting Company — $84,000
Architecture & Permits — $35,000
Grading & Asphalt Repair — $15,000
Structural Engineering — $15,000
Delivery to Site — $5,000
Contingency — $10,000
Total: $253,000
Thus far, the board has raised $90,000 of that amount, and, with those funds, the builders have begun the permitting process, Buecker said. The goal is to complete all fundraising by the end of the year and then complete construction by the end of 2027. Many of the association’s 70 homeowners gave initial contributions of $1,500 each, and The Canyon Alliance also provided a donation.
The association is reaching out to the broader community since bikers and walkers from outside the association boundaries frequent the bridge and its path, Buecker said. Within the coming weeks, a QR code will be placed at both ends of the bridge so that people who use it can easily send donations. Donations can also be sent via the project website—rusticcanyonbridge.com.
“I'm trying to make this as painless as possible for people,” Buecker said. “It’s a big chunk of money to pay, especially for the people who don't use the bridge, so we're trying to come up with ideas for fundraising and potential events…. There are so many people in the neighborhood who feel so passionate about the bridge, which was built after a hard fight, including lawsuits. They feel that we have to keep this, and I agree.”
