The last link in a continuous Riverwalk loop was the 2019 replacement of the narrow wood-plank footbridge built alongside the old iron railroad trestle that spans the river near its mouth. The 10' width of the new walkway (see at right) means that pedestrians/bicyclists going opposite directions can pass each other without one turning sideways.
The final obstacle to completing a continuous Riverwalk loop was removed in 2017, when an iron pedestrian bridge was installed over Branciforte Creek at the south end of San Lorenzo Park, along with a new trail section that drops under the Soquel Avenue vehicle bridge. Riverwalk-ers no longer have to detour out to Dakota/Riverside Street to cross the creek and street.
Before the Branciforte Creek foot bridge, an even bigger obstacle to a Riverwalk loop was removed when a similar but longer iron footbridge (made by the same company, see at left) was installed in 2010, crossing the San Lorenzo just downstream from the Highway 1 bridge. At the same time a new walkway segment was completed, passing under Highway 1 to connect the west-bank Riverwalk to the Tannery Arts Center.
City of Santa Cruz planning for the Riverwalk began way back in 1987. It took a long time, as public projects tend to do, but now it's complete.
Santa Cruz Changes locations can be found on this Google Map.
