Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park Access at Ranger Station

Jim (Kioti) posted this issue in another thread, the Awma Rd. bridge may be closed (maybe now, maybe soon). OC Parks website says it is closed now as of 3/10/16. They suggest parking across Alicia at Niguel Regional Park and crossing Alicia to access the ranger station. That may make the upper entrance (Canyon Vistas) really busy.
This is the latest update I could find...
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bridge-707577-aliso-county.html

This from OC Parks:
March 11, 2016
Awma Bridge Closed

No vehicle access to Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park parking lot due to Awma Road bridge closure.

Beginning March 10, the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA) is closing the Awma Road Bridge until further notice. Visitors may park at Laguna Niguel Regional Park at 28241 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 and cross Alicia Parkway at the marked crosswalk to access Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Detour Map

 

I would personally look for alternatives to crossing Alicia at that crosswalk, such as coming in from Wood Canyon Drive and turning on Knollwood, which curves around and parallels the Ranger Station entry road. Hopefully Knollwood will be made 2-way during the closure so the regular parking lot can be accessed and the Mormons can go to church.

 

The Mormons will take wagon trains if necessary to get to church. I know. I grew up as one.

 

You can park near the soccer fields off Wood Canyon road, or in the elementary school parking lot and ride in, just as we did when the Ranger Station Lot was closed.

 

So, they spent all that money upgrading a parking lot that really didn't need it, and now we can't even park there?

 

Last couple of times I was there, the street from the ranger lot out past the school was one way going out. Maybe that was just when school was starting or ending(?) Obviously they have to have a way to get to the church....

 

Yes it is one way, but you can park on either side of the street up to that sign and you can park in the Elementary school lot on weekends. This is what we did when the main lot was closed.

When I drove by this morning, the bridge was still open to cars one direction (in).

 

Concur, I rode through the lot on my way out and it was open the same as it was last week. There was a official like vehicle parked with someone inside ready to ticket anyone that was going to go through the wrong way back out to Alicia.

 

Rode Aliso this morning. The bridge is still open, but the sign said it will be closed on 3/18.

 

Looks to me like OCParks is figuring that bikers and hikers will still be able to use the bridge - I wouldn't be so sure.
If there is no hiker/biker access it would really suck for me. I ride the road bike 2-3x a week across that bridge.

Saw a security looking vehicle there last nite about 5:45; by 7 he was gone.

I think it's just a pure power play by the wastewater agency. They don't want to pay to fix/maintain the bridge and so want to pass it off on others. They have other access to their plant, even though that bridge is probably the most convenient for them.
Is the county still basically broke? I don't see them paying for it.
Laguna Niguel probably doesn't care
Aliso Woods city and/or HOA's probably do care - it's a big shortcut for a lot of people. Will they pony up the $?
Mormon Church would really really care. Otherwise, their access is a mess.

My bet is that Aliso Viejo/HOA take it over; with some $ from the church too. Second guess is the county takes it over. Third guess is it gets demolished. Even that would cost the wastewater agency $, so there best play is to sucker another agency into actually buying it from them. They'd probably even still get to use it. Win/win for them.

I took a pic of the new sign posted by the wastewater authority. Might be a little difficult to read.

 

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bridge-708852-aliso-niguel.html

It's staying open till May 5th now. Looks like the signage and threat of closure is someone/some group playing politics.

 

Like the new avatar Cougar