The Point: New bridge honors RCTC Commissioner and former Norco Mayor Berwin Hanna
After several decades of community support, advocacy, and hard work, the drive on Hamner Avenue between Norco and Eastvale will be easier. On Monday, August 26, 2024, the County of Riverside Transportation Department (TLMA), along with the communities of Norco and Eastvale, celebrated the opening of the new Mayor Berwin Hanna Bridge over the Santa Ana River and the completion of the Hamner Avenue Widening Project. The newly completed bridge was named after long-time city of Norco resident and active community member Berwin Hanna. Hanna has served the community of Norco as mayor, councilmember, and was appointed to represent the city of Norco on the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). The completion of the new bridge represents a vital connection and partnership between our communities.
The original bridge, built in 1939, has long been a link between Norco, Eastvale, and the surrounding unincorporated areas in Riverside County. Although the bridge was widened and seismic upgrades were completed in 1978, the work was eventually rendered outdated and insufficient, prompting the county to begin construction on the new 1,200-foot-long bridge in January 2021. The new Mayor Berwin Hanna Bridge features a structural, seismic, and hydraulic state-of-the-art design. In the immediate vicinity, Hamner Avenue was widened from two to six traffic lanes to enhance traffic flow.
The project also widened the median and shoulders creating a new 12-foot-wide separated multipurpose trail on the east side of the bridge. The new trail is anticipated to open soon and will give equestrians, pedestrians, and cyclists a safe route across the bridge and access to the Santa Ana River Trail.
TMLA delivered this $71 million project with various funding sources, including Senate Bill 132, Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fees, federal highway bridge funds, and Coastal Conservancy funding to construct access to the Santa Ana River Trail. The old adage “it takes a village” could not be more fitting regarding funding for this critical project. RCTC, along with City of Norco, City of Eastvale, state and federal legislators including Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Senator Richard Roth, Representative Ken Calvert, advocated for this much needed funding.
This project is a critical improvement for the region, enhancing public safety, traffic flow, and better connectivity for various modes of transportation across the Santa Ana River. RCTC is proud to have helped the cities advocate for the funding to keep our keeping moving. For more information about this project, please visit https://www.hamneraveproject.com/