bay bridge, west span bicycle/pedestrian pathway
san francisco-oakland, california
In conjunction with bridge engineers, MacDonald Architects designed the proposed Bicycle/Pedestrian Pathway to the existing West Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
The feasibility study for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Multi-Use Pathway is a collaborative effort with the public in developing an alternative to crossing the bay by automobile. Two alternative schemes were developed to provide bicyclists and pedestrians with a unique means for crossing the bay.
ramps and touchdowns
Designed as a small urban park, the San Francisco Plaza will offer visitors of the pathways a place to rest and congregate. The architectural vocabulary of the built structures will capture qualities of the Bay Bridge in terms of form and materials, while integrating elements such as railings and lampposts from the proposed pathways along the main span. The plaza will effectively provide an accessible point of entry to the pathways for bicycles, wheelchairs, pedestrians, and maintenance vehicles.
lighting
Low level fixtures that illuminate the pathway surface will be installed in each railing bollard. Decorative lampposts will be located at each belvedere to distinguish them as resting areas along the dual pathways. They will impart a sculptural presence during the day, while providing illumination at night. These lampposts will also be located at every 60' along the Yerba Buena Island and San Francisco touch down areas.
elevators and stairs
The proposed stairs will be of steel fabrication and will ascend within the recesses of the piers, thereby minimizing a visual impact on the east and west sides of the concrete pylon structures. These new stairways will also connect the north and south side pathways to each other on the underside of the existing roadway deck. The elevators will be on either side of the piers (accessing both pathways) as exterior attachments to the historic bridge structure.
maintenance access
The pathway was also designed to accommodate Caltrans maintenance vehicles. This will facilitate easier inspection and routine maintenance of the bridge, thereby helping to ease automobile congestion and providing emergency crews with easy access to the length of the bridge span.
In conjunction with CH2M Hill and SC Solutions, MacDonald Architects provided the necessary design criteria and solutions to Caltrans in order to consider the social and economic implications of the project on the Bay Area.
The responsibilities of Macdonald Architects included, coordinating the historical analysis of the existing structure, conceptual new design, design development, computer modeling/rendering of two proposed alternatives, and public presentations.