Palm Springs council backs staff plan for South Palm Canyon bridge, rejects land-trust alternative for now

Palm Springs City Council on July 21 authorized staff to move forward with the city’s proposed South Palm Canyon bridge and culvert design, rejecting an alternative plan submitted by the OSWET Land Trust for further study at this time.

The council acted after staff presented results of a 60‑plus day public engagement process and engineers explained technical and funding risks associated with changing the design. City Engineer Joel Montalvo summarized the outreach and consultant review; Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado and dozens of residents testified in favor of the city plan because they called the project a life‑safety priority. Representatives of OSWET and outside engineers urged the council to consider a narrower floodwall alternative that they say would lessen habitat impacts.

Why it matters: The council’s action preserves federal construction funding and moves a “shovel‑ready” project toward bidding and construction while the city completes a CEQA addendum and NEPA revalidation. Staff and several residents said delaying the project could risk $4.5 million in Caltrans funding and leave Andreas Hills neighborhoods without reliable emergency access during storms.

City staff and consultant Daily Strategies described the community outreach that followed a council direction in April…