Long-Awaited $16 Million 'Freedom Bridge' In Menifee Officially Opens

MENIFEE, CA —There was no official ceremony to mark the official opening of Freedom Bridge in Menifee on Thursday, but that didn't stop dozens of residents from getting a view of the bridge and cars celebrating the occasion with patriotic music and honks.

After more than one year of construction, and years of concern for Menifee residents, the $16 Million "Freedom Bridge" built over the Salt Creek Wash was seeing traffic flow and visitors.

Construction on the Bradley Road Bridge project broke ground last year with completion expected this fall. Bradley Road was fully closed between Rio Vista Drive and Potomac Drive for more than one year while crews worked on the project.

The bridge allows motorists and pedestrians to travel north-south over the wash, and was designed to prevent flooding on Bradley Road during storms.

The bridge was also expected to enhance response times of first responders throughout the city.

RELATED: $16 Million Bridge Construction Set To Begin In Menifee

In July, Bradley Road Bridge was renamed the Freedom Bridge by the Menifee City Council. It was recommended by the city's Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee to honor the veteran and military community, the city said.

Nearby residents like Lidia Williams trickled out of their homes with neighbors to see if the bridge was open late Friday afternoon. The bridge was opened earlier than the scheduled time of 5 p.m. Thursday but that didn't stop cars from honking their horns and vehicles blasting American-themed songs as they traveled over the bridge.

Williams, a Los Angeles native, said in the 3 years she has been living in Menifee, she has seen a lot of changes and growth, but the bridge is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, and worth the investment.

"The last really bad rain that we had it was so flooded, we couldn't use it. People were getting stranded so they finally decided — especially with this being a senior community — to shut it down and make it safe for us. We also use the walking path a lot and they had to close it out because it was so flooded," she told Patch.

Williams said areas like McCall Boulevard and Bradley Road need maintenance, and welcomed the idea of more projects in the city that improve infrastructure.

Tami McCarthy said since moving to Menifee 9 years ago, the wash has been frequently flooded and dangerous for motorists and pedestrians. She said she has seen multiple cars stranded and flooded in the wash, and even recalled witnessing an elderly woman stranded in the wash who was rescued by good Samaritans.

She said taking a detour to access Newport Road was inconvenient but she was pleased the bridge has finally come to fruition.

"I moved in 9 years ago and the first rain when I went to work, I was like, how do I get out of here, this road was flooded, so we've been cheering for this for a long time," McCarthy told Patch.

City officials are planning a ceremony celebrating the opening of Freedom Bridge on Oct. 13.

Patch Local Editor Toni McAllister contributed to this story.