Costa Mesa needs to fight study of bridge at Gisler

Just as Costa Mesa was simmering down from the fervor caused by a

city committee reviving discussion of a bridge at 19th Street,

Fountain Valley city leaders built up the rancor further this month

by requesting $500,000 in grant funding to study design and

environmental possibilities for a bridge at Gisler Avenue.

Costa Mesa residents and officials alike reacted with shock at the

news, which goes against popular opinion and official collaboration.

The 19th Street bridge and the one at Gisler exist on county

plans, though they have had almost no popular support in any of the

surrounding cities for years. The plans are so unpopular that leaders

in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach

have been working with county officials to find alternatives to the

unpopular bridges.

Thus the surprise that Fountain Valley would suddenly change

direction. And while officials from the other side of the Santa Ana

River argue that there is no reason for Costa Mesa residents to be

upset, spending any time or money on a route other than removing the

bridges from county planning is reason enough.

The downsides to construction of a bridge at Gisler Avenue (as

well as the one languishing on county maps at 19th Street) greatly

outweigh any benefits for Costa Mesa residents or businesses. The

bridges, according to the vast majority of people and most experts,

would serve only as high-speed alternatives to Pacific Coast Highway,

Victoria Street and Adams Avenue. They will not bring more business

to the neighborhoods around those streets.

Costa Mesa officials, therefore, would serve their constituents

well by fighting -- whether politely or more intently, if necessary

-- any work to have these bridges built. That city leaders seemed

relatively nonplused by the news, once the initial shock wore off, is

encouraging. They need to remain focused on what’s best for Costa

Mesa.

And that is not more ways across the Santa Ana River.