There have been plans for another bridge across the Sacramento River for a generation. But a new proposal to build a bridge just south of Highway 50 is drawing fire from those who say it will make traffic woes worse in several Sacramento neighborhoods.

"We'll build a bridge across to your neighborhoods and move the cars out of our neighborhoods to yours," said Jim Randlett of the Land Park Community Association. Randlett said 33,000 new cars a day would cause gridlock in residential neighborhoods. Randlett said the bridge is being pushed hardest by West Sacramento to ease traffic problems for commuters in the Southport area.

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon called the new bridge a "centerpiece" in regional transportation planning, adding that both cities are "...trying to bring new life and neighborhoods back to the river and connect the neighborhoods that are already there so they can enjoy the waterfront again."

Cabaldon claims local impacts are being studied and that the bridge would bring badly needed relief to traffic on Highway 50 and Interstate 5.

Commuters in West Sacramento say the bridge would be a huge help for trips across the river. "It would make our life easier to get over to that side of town for restaurants and other things they have over there," commuter Tricia Poteet said.

Opponents of the bridge have petitioned the City of Sacramento to pull out of its half of a $400,000 feasibility study for the span. For now, that study is continuing.