‘Now, it’s official’: After delays and rebuild, Sacramento’s Del Rio Trail complete
Sacramento’s Del Rio Trail bridge officially opened Tuesday, completing a long-delayed connection between south Sacramento and downtown.
After months of delays, a partial teardown and a rebuild of the new portion carrying bikes and pedestrians, the bridge now links the Del Rio Trail to the Sacramento River Bike Trail. The span, located above Riverside Boulevard, crosses Interstate 5 and marks the final link in the 5-mile Del Rio path stretching from Meadowview to Land Park.
“It’s about connectivity. It’s about moms and dads in strollers. But it’s also about commuters. This allows people to commute downtown without having to interact with cars,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty after he and bicyclists crossed the newly opened span during a chilly morning ceremony. “It’s a big deal. Never before could you go on a safe, dedicated trail. Now you can complete that.”
Mary Sutton plans to. She’s ridden the trail for years, traversing the old railroad bridge the new span now parallels. On Tuesday, Sutton’s bike was near the head of the pack, dozens more cyclists following behind. After the project’s stops and starts, she cheered the bridge opening.
“It’s a miracle,” Sutton said with a laugh. “This is fabulous. We made our own way for years, we took the old railroad bridge, but now, it’s official. I’m so happy.”
Fanfare greeted the bridge’s original open in May 2024, but construction problems soon surfaced. Issues with concrete and rebar in the attached overhang structure halted the project.
In August, the city rejected that portion of the work and, in July, officials announced that the overhang would be removed and rebuilt to meet design and safety standards. The main bridge structure remained intact throughout.
Sacramento leaders and officials who helmed the project acknowledged the delays and the community’s frustration in vowing a safer bridge — and a safer route for commuters, cyclists and neighbors.
“We know why we couldn’t do it the first time, but now we know why we can do it for the rest of our days,” said Sacramento City Councilmember Rick Jennings, who represents the neighborhoods connected by the trail.
“We got it right, and it’s going to be safe. Now, if we had let you go on it before, it would not have been safe. That wouldn’t have been right,” Jennings said. “We’re doing the right thing by making sure we took the time to get it done right, and now it provides a safe environment for all that come out here and enjoy it.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 1:52 PM.
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