New San Juan Creek Bridge Opens to Train Traffic
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
A Metrolink train travels over the new San Juan Creek Bridge, with the previous bridge adjacent to it, on the morning of Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in San Juan Capistrano. Photo and caption courtesy of OCTA.
ORANGE COUNTY - OCTA has opened the new San Juan Creek Bridge to train traffic.
This bridge opening follows 17 months of construction work to rebuild the original 1917 structure, according to OCTA, marking a “major milestone” in its partnership with Metrolink to enhance safety and reliability. After weekend testing, passenger trains traversed the bridge on the morning of October 27. The bridge serves as a “key link” in the LOSSAN rail corridor.
The project total was approximately $65 million and was funded via Measure M half-cent sales tax. The bridge’s design follows standards that “improve rail operations and safety” and include “upgraded foundations and improved flood protection” for the channel. Crews will continue work in the area in the spring to remove the old structure.
OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee said, “This new bridge represents an important investment in safety and efficiency for the thousands of passengers and freight customers who depend on this rail line every day. . . By replacing an aging structure that has served the region for more than a century, we’re ensuring that train service through this area remains reliable and resilient for decades to come.”
