The Johnny Cash Overpass Bridge is a concrete bike bridge over Folsom Lake Crossing near East Natoma in Folsom. It was constructed in 2017 with recycled and reclaimed materials.
Starting where the American River Bike auxiliary trail over Folsom Dam ends, this is officially the beginning of the Johnny Cash Art Trail.
The bridge itself is art, with architecture similar to the nearby Folsom Prison. According to the website, the towers on either side of the bridge are modeled after the East Gate at the prison, where Johnny Cash took some of his most famous photos.
Several planned public art works are to be placed near the bridge in the future, including the Man in Black, the Ring of Fire, the Rusty Cage, and Cash's Pick.
Throughout the year, the bridge is amply decorated with flags and lights, depending on the season. Pretty soon, it should be decorated with military flags to celebrate Memorial Day. After that, it will feature American flags for most of the summer.
Riding (or walking) over the bridge takes one through the two lines of flags (since they're hung over both sides of the bridge, which is also the trail). On a windy day, the noise of the flags flapping fades out the sounds of traffic down below.
For selfie enthusiasts, the bridge makes an excellent backdrop, with or without the flags.
Currently, the nearest parking is either in the Brigg's Ranch area, or on the other side of the dam. In the future, there is going to be a new parking lot for the trail on the corner of Folsom Lake Crossing and East Natoma, which is practically next to the bridge. According to the website, it will feature 25 parking spaces, 2 of which will be ADA accessible.
Overall, this bridge is sturdy, convenient, beautiful, and environmentally friendly. I can't wait to see what it looks like when all of the nearby art installations are complete. read more