First and second ridge type photonic waveguides are provided. Each of the waveguides includes a core layer and a reflective cladding layer in continuous contact with a first side of a core layer. The core layer has a core index of the refraction and is formed in a ridge in a dimension and shape to impose lateral confinement. The reflective cladding layer has an index of refraction that is substantially different than the core index of refraction. An inter-waveguide slab portion is provided between the first and second waveguides. A substrate supports the first and second waveguides, the slab portion, and the reflective cladding layer. A light interceptor region is provided to hinder a transfer of photons between the first and second waveguides through the inter-waveguides slab portion. The light interceptor region may include a trench region, which is an air gap in one embodiment.