The first new bridge crossing over the San Joaquin River within the county in at least 40 years is opening in 2016.

That is when traffic will start flowing on the River Islands Parkway — an extension of Louise Avenue — into its namesake planned community.

The bridge decks were put in place in 2012 by Cambay Group. Part of the reason was to take advantage of lower construction costs due to the recession but what really drove the decision was federal and state permits that had been obtained were nearing an expiration date. The approaches were not put in place at the time to avoid people from accessing the bridge. It essentially created twin canopies over the river.

Grading for the River Islands side approach started this summer. Work will start soon on the Mossdale Crossing side.

The bridge — 100 percent paid for by Cambay Group — wasn’t required to be built until the 800th home had been sold at River Islands at Lathrop.

“It is going in ahead of schedule,” noted Project Manager Susan Dell’Osso.

There have been 300 homes sold to date by four different builders.

River Islands Parkway will become the main entrance to the planned community of 11,000 homes. When the number of homes reaches a certain point, Caltrans is requiring the current access from Manthey Road via Interstate 5 be removed. That is to make sure that traffic going to and from the planned community doesn’t severely impact the heavy and tight merges between Interstate 205 and the 120 Bypass along Interstate 5.

Eventually River Islands Parkway will extend westward across the balance of the planned community and into Tracy on its north side.

Ultimately anther freeway access point will be added along Interstate 205.

An effort is underway to get an Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail station along tracks that skirt the eastern end of River Islands where a business park is being developed. The intent is to make River Islands a true transit hub with jobs within walking distance of those arriving by rail and easily access to commuter trains to Bay Area jobs for the roughly 40,000 people expected to eventually live at River Islands.

In a move to make travel for future pedestrians and bicyclists using the green belt that will go on part of the 300-foot wide super levee that surrounds the development, a pedestrian bridge is being put in place where the traffic lanes drop off the two bridge decks across the river and enter River Islands.

“It (River Islands Parkway) will be a busy four-lane thoroughfare,” Dell Osso said. “While it wasn’t part of the original plan we felt it was needed to keep pedestrians using the levee parks safe.”

River Islands will also have main entrance signage on the bridge.

Cambay Group plans to take advantage of the limited access to River Islands — eventually there will be only three access points to reach what is known on maps as Stewart Tract — to enhance the security and safety of residents.

There are plans to put in license plate readers and cameras monitoring traffic.

Since stolen cars are involved in a significant number of crimes, the system will allow police to be alerted when one enters River Islands. At the same time cameras along key streets will allow police dispatchers to track such vehicles in real time as police officers respond.