Berkeley I-80 bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Berkeley I-80 bridge is a 15-foot-wide bridge spanning the Eastshore Freeway (Interstate 80/580) in Berkeley, California to allow bicycles, pedestrians, and wheelchair users access to the Berkeley Marina, Eastshore State Park, and the city. In the records of the city, the bridge is referred to as the "City of Berkeley Eastshore Pedestrian Overcrossing." The bridge has two lanes for bikes, and a raised sidewalk. It is also wide enough to carry emergency vehicles, if needed.
[edit] History
Opened on February 27, 2002, the bridge was built at a cost of $6.4 million. The bridge created an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)-compliant route between Berkeley and its Marina/waterfront park region. Previously, the only wheelchair accessible route was via an undercrossing one mile to the north. Bicycles and pedestrians could use a dark, hidden, and seldom-used path and stairwell that ran under and along the University Avenue freeway overpass.
Since opening, the bridge has seen a much higher use than the previous path and stairwell.
[edit] References
- Berkeley Daily Planet, February 28, 2002
