Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been updated to correct an error. The Oswit Land Trust did not sue the city over the bridge in 2019.

The city of Palm Springs is moving forward with a low water crossing bridge on South Palm Canyon Drive that was previously delayed multiple times over environmental concerns.

In a 3-0 vote, with Councilmember Grace Garner absent and Councilmember David Ready recusing himself because his home is near the project, the council decided to accept a design for the bridge that impacts around three acres of the nearby Oswit Canyon nature preserve.

Environmentalists have long urged officials to enact a design that does not require damaging a natural area at the edge of the city. However, dozens of nearby residents urged the council at the meeting to move forward with the project rather than delay it again because they were concerned about being cut off in the event of an emergency.

“We’re a very compassionate city, we care about our animals, we care about conservation, we care about wildlife, but public safety by far outweighs every other concern,” Mayor Ron deHarte said during the meeting.

The project has been repeatedly delayed over environmental concerns, most recently in April. South Palm Canyon Drive is the only access to neighborhoods in Palm Springs south of Bogert Trail. During a flood on Valentines Day in 2019, that area was cut off by high water, an event many residents brought up as a reason for their support of the city’s design during Monday’s meeting.

“We’ve made the preserve, we’ve created the preserve, but we’re not preserving the life — safety of the residents in the adjacent neighborhoods,” said nearby resident Tom Benedetti. “I think that needs to happen rather quickly.”

The property abuts Oswit Canyon, a 114-acre nature preserve that serves as a habitat for many animals, including the Peninsular bighorn sheep, an endangered species. Oswit Land Trust, which owns and administers the preserve, has fiercely opposed the city’s design because it impacts about 3.5 acres in the southeast corner of the property with a stone channel meant to divert water beneath the bridge.

Oswit had previously tussled with the city over the bridge. Due to the potential for litigation, the city and Oswit reached an agreement in which the city maintained control over the design of the bridge, with Oswit allowed to submit a proposal of their own.

Oswit did submit an alternative proposal, which kept the bridge portion of the project, but removed the stone channel in favor of a cement wall along the road meant to prevent water from spilling into the roadway. The preservation group said their design would maintain the environment near the bridge, while being cheaper and more effective than the city’s design.

But City Engineer Joel Montalvo said city engineers would essentially have to start over with the project if the council went with Oswit’s design, and that could lead to up to a two-year delay.

State funding has been secured for the project. However, around $5 million from Caltrans could be forfeited if it is not spent by the end of 2026. Current city estimates put the total cost of the project at $9 million.

But environmental concerns remain paramount.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife center sent a joint letter to the city cautioning officials over the potential environmental impact.

“The Wildlife Agencies are concerned that the proposed roadway does not align with the conservation of the Oswit Canyon property acquisition and respectfully request clarification regarding the intent and necessity of the Project as proposed,” the agencies said.

The city has not yet responded to the letter, but plans to meet with the agencies soon.

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: Palm Springs moves forward with controversial bridge on South Palm Canyon despite concerns

Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun

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