
Today the City of Newport Beach took an exciting step closer to completing renovation and restoration activities in the Buck Gully Preserve. After months of work restoring and modifying trails through Upper Buck Gully, four bridges were lifted by helicopter over the canyon and set in place along a new trail. The carefully orchestrated helicopter operation was organized by Irvine Ranch Conservancy, working closely with City staff and Federal Aviation Administration officials.
The bridges were fabricated in Florida and transported by semi-truck cross-country and weigh more than 3,000 pounds. The bridges are up to 50 feet in length and were lifted out of Canyon Watch Park on San Joaquin Hills Road. Helicopter pilot Glenn Smith of Atlas Airlift Helicopter Company lifted the bridges one by one and set them in place with the help of Atlas and Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and volunteers. The Conservancy crew also worked with Newport Beach Police Department officers along San Joaquin Hills Road to secure the area around Canyon Watch Park, keeping pedestrians and motorists out of the helicopter’s flight path. The close coordination between all organizations resulted in an efficient and safe operation that lasted just 30 minutes.