Bridge could be opened to public

The footbridge to Bay Island, once a popular spot for children to dive into Newport Harbor before it was secured by a locked gate, could soon be open to the public again if the California Coastal Commission has its way.

The commission ruled last week that Bay Island’s 20-some homeowners must give the public access to a new bridge the Bay Island Club plans to build to replace the aging, 50-year-old structure, which is the only way on and off the private island, except by boat.

Citing state law, the commission found the public should have access to the bridge because it spans a public waterway. Work on building a new bridge is expected to begin in the fall.

A private enclave inaccessible by car, Bay Island residents include Charles Munger, vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.

Island Avenue resident Allen Maxfield, whose family has owned a house in the Balboa Peninsula neighborhood adjacent to Bay Island since 1908, remembers jumping off the bridge as a boy.

A lifeguard stationed nearby would sometimes chase school children away from diving off the 130-foot-long bridge.

“I can understand why they don’t want people on the bridge, but it was always wide open so people could walk over and stand on the bridge, but there were no fishing or no diving signs on it,” Maxfield said. “It was always nice to have a little walk on the bridge.”

The Bay Island Club and Newport Beach officials both want the bridge to stay private, citing the legal problems that could arise if someone is injured jumping off the structure.

“The city is concerned about the liability on a private bridge that is privately maintained and owned,” said Chris Miller, Newport Beach harbor resources manager.

Jared Ficker, a consultant the Bay Island Club has hired to help it obtain all the proper permits for the bridge, also said club members are worried about liability. The club isn’t sure if it will challenge the Coastal Commission’s ruling yet, he said.

“We’ve got to figure that out,” Ficker said. “At this point, we’re assessing our options and how to pursue them.”

No one seems to remember when a gate first appeared on the peninsula side of the private bridge, but Coastal Commission staff have uncovered photographs that show there was once no gate as recently as 1998, according to commission documents.

Island Avenue residents lobbied the Coastal Commission to ensure the public’s access to a popular fishing area near the Bay Island bridge was protected during the bridge replacement project, but also were pleasantly pleased the bridge might be made public again, resident Dave Follett said.

“It’s really commendable to see an agency looking out for the common people,” Follett said. “I think we feel a little bamboozled we haven’t said anything about it sooner.”