Riverside County dedicates Hamner Avenue project’s Berwin Hanna Bridge

Local officials and community members on Monday dedicated the recently renovated Hamner Avenue bridge to former Norco Mayor Berwin Hanna.

An event at Eastvale Community Park officially cut the ribbon on the Hamner Avenue Bridge and Widening Project. Construction on the 85-year-old bridge in Norco began in January 2021.

Hamner Avenue is a major artery and alternate route to Interstate 15 that connects Corona, Norco, Eastvale and cities in San Bernardino County to the north, and officials expect traffic to increase with population growth over time.

The new 1,200-foot bridge stretches across the Santa Ana River and “features structural, seismic and hydraulic state-of-the-art design,” according to a Riverside County statement. The bridge’s roadway now includes shoulders and a median that is 4 feet wide.

It also now has a new 12-foot-wide, separated multipurpose trail on the bridge’s east side. Officials expect the trail to open later this summer, providing equestrians, pedestrians and cyclists with a safe path across the bridge and access to the Santa Ana River Trail. The project’s cost was $71 million from federal, state and local funding sources.

Speakers at the ribbon-cutting and dedication event included Riverside County 2nd District Supervisor Karen Spiegel, Rep. Ken Calvert, D-Corona, Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director Aaron Hake and Kurt Wilson, Western executive director of the Riverside Council of Governments.

“This bridge is a critical link for our communities here in Riverside County and beyond,” Spiegel said in a statement. “At a time of tremendous population growth in our county, construction of the 6-lane bridge will benefit motorists, residents, and visitors for years to come.”

The original Hamner Avenue bridge honored Riverside County Supervisor John Thomas “J.T.” Hamner, who served on the board from 1902 to 1922. Officials described Hamner as “a passionate horseman” from Corona who was dedicated to improving the region and strongly supported public transportation — Hamner incorporated a trolly line in the area, among other local modernization efforts.

The bridge dedication on Monday honored another passionate horseman, former Norco Mayor Berwin Hanna, who, just like Hamner, is an advocate for public transportation improvements in the region, according to the county. The Norco City Council approved the bridge renaming in December 2020 following a community request.

As a Norco councilman, Hanna has made persistent regional efforts to advocate for the funding and construction of the new bridge.

“Since joining the City Council in 2007, Berwin has consistently advocated for Norco at all levels of government and has brought continuous attention to the Hamner Bridge Project,” Norco Mayor Kevin Bash said in a statement. “May this bridge forever stand as a testament to Mayor Hanna’s enduring legacy and symbolize his unwavering dedication, selfless service and profound impact on the Norco community.”

The bridge is currently open for vehicle traffic, a county spokeswoman said.