East Palo Alto is building a new bridge over Highway 101 for people to walk and bike to and from Palo Alto.
The bridge will be 12 feet wide and go up just north of the University Avenue overpass.
Construction is scheduled to begin in May and finish in April 2024.
The project also includes reconfiguring the Highway 101 on-ramps and off-ramps with the aim of reducing long traffic delays along University Avenue at both Donohoe Street in East Palo Alto and Woodland Avenue in Palo Alto.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors put $1 million toward the $12.2 million project on Tuesday, spending money from Stanford that was set aside in 2000 to relieve the impacts of the university’s growth.
“This is an unbelievably busy route for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. I’m really pleased to see this project move forward,” Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian said. “If we want to get people out of their cars, adding a pedestrian and bicycle overcrossing will make it a whole lot easier, not to mention safer, for folks to go back and forth across the 101 to access jobs, shopping, and recreational opportunities like the Bay Trail.”
The project also received $8 million from San Mateo County.
It will help pedestrians and cyclists go from East Palo Alto to East Palo Alto. The current configuration has always been dangerous for residents needing go over the ramp, so this will be a very helpful addition. Thanks to the leadership making this happen.
I am a little confused about the need for a bike bridge near University avenue. A new bike bridge was built a little south of University between Newell Road and Home Depot. See:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4569554,-122.1355335,14.97z/data=!5m1!1e3
What is the justification for another bridge?
Plenty pedestrian and bridges in general in the area. You could be like bob and argue you only need 1. But there’s this thing called convenience and also safety.
Right now people play with their lives squeezing against traffic and pedestrians walking, bridge is needed