Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been updated to clarify that Oswit Land Trust did not sue the city over the bridge in 2019.
A Palm Springs bridge project that has been in the works for more than 20 years has been delayed once again following a legal challenge by environmentalists.
A bridge on South Palm Canyon Drive near Bogert Trail is meant to ensure emergency services can access residences in the southern portion of the city during a flood or other disaster, but concerns over its impact to wildlife and plants have consistently pushed back construction.
In a community update sent out by city officials on Friday, March 6, the city said a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity may yet again postpone work by at least two years as the city conducts environmental studies.
The city said in the update that the latest delay could jeopardize millions of dollars that have been committed to the project by the federal government, which could potentially cause it to be cancelled.
“This is a lifesaving public safety project and is a top priority for the community and the City,” the city’s update said.
Why Palm Springs wants to build the bridge
Roughly 700 homes in south Palm Springs can be accessed only by using South Palm Canyon Drive. In the event of flooding, this area is cut off from emergency services.
In 2019, heavy rain on Valentines Day caused a flood, which closed the road to vehicle traffic. Many residents have pointed to the storm as a reason why the new bridge is necessary.
The Palm Springs Fire Department has also advocated for the necessity of the bridge.
“I support that bridge,” Fire Chief Paul Alvarado said in a message included in the city’s update. “I need to make sure that my rescuers can get to calls where they need to go.”
Concerns over the environment
The bridge would be built along the Oswit Canyon nature preserve and a concrete structure funneling water beneath the bridge would impact around 3.5 acres of the property.
The area is known as a habitat for the Peninsular bighorn sheep, which are an endangered species, causing concern over the impacts to wildlife.
The bridge has been the subject of controversy for years.
Because of the potential for litigation, Oswit Land Trust, which administers the preserve, reached an agreement with the city in 2020 to allow it to comment on the design of the bridge. This allowed the bridge project to move forward.
However, in July 2025, the Palm Springs City Council rejected Oswit’s design in favor of one created by the city’s engineering department. In a 3-0 vote, the council decided to move forward with the project.
“Oswit Land Trust has consistently supported finding solutions that protect both public safety and the surrounding natural landscape,” the organization said in a statement. “In fact, our organization proposed an alternative design that could reduce damage to sensitive habitat while still addressing flood-safety measures.”
Oswit went on to say the city must carefully evaluation a design that reduces the risks of flooding while preserving the environment.
The Center for Biological Diversity announced its intent to sue the city over its adherence to the California Environmental Quality Act shortly thereafter.
The state law known as CEQA requires municipalities to prepare rigorous studies on a project’s impact to the environment. Third parties can challenge those studies as inadequate, which may result in them needing to be redone.
This has been known to delay projects for years, which may be why the city has chosen to update its environmental reviews even as the lawsuit remains ongoing.
How the lawsuit impacts costs
The city estimates the bridge will cost around $9 million to complete. Roughly $4.5 million is funded through a federal road improvement program.
But the city must begin construction by December 2026 in order to use the federal funds.
The city has sought an extension on the deadline, which has not yet been approved.
What’s next?
The timeline for the project is now unclear as the city must update its environmental studies before the plans for the bridge can be finalized. The question over the federal funding also raises the question of how the project will be paid for.
If the Center for Biological Diversity were to prevail in court, the city would be forced to conduct environmental studies on the proposal by the Oswit Land Trust, which could add more time to the project.
Since 2005, the city has been preparing to build a bridge on South Palm Canyon. Residents, however, will have to wait at least a little longer.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: South Palm Springs bridge project delayed again by lawsuit
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
