| The Palo Alto History Project |
| Oregon Expressway Footbridge Oregon Expressway at the 101 Freeway |
| Oregon Expressway Footbridge: The Freeway Divide Since they started being built en masse in the 1950's, freeways have always been severe neighborhood dividers---both physically and psychologically. Many cities have been divided by major freeways and Palo Alto is an interesting example. The 101 really divides Palo Alto in two different and very distinct places and ways. It separates Palo Alto from its eastern tip along the Baylands---a part of the city that includes the airport, the main post office, the golf course, and many office complexes. It also divides Palo Alto bikers from the Baylands and its nature trails. But the other major divide, is of course, the psychological barrier it creates between East Palo Alto and Palo Alto (although the creek is the technical dividing line). These two very different cities---one largely minority and poor, the other largely white and well-off---are kept apart in a way that would not exist if the freeway was not there. This truth has had many ramifications on the two cities over the years. To connect the two sides of Palo Alto (which the city seems to prefer over connecting it with East Palo), is the now 35 year old pedestrian/bicycle footbridge that crosses near Oregon Expressway. The other way for bikers to get across is through the tunnel at Adobe Creek, which is open only half the year due to frequent flooding. In 2006, two pro-bike city council members proposed building one or two new bike and pedestrian bridges over the 101. But even if they're built, they are unlikely to overcome the psychological freeway divide. -Matt Bowling: |
| The footbridge in the day |
| The footbridge at night |
| The look down from the footbridge at the 101 Freeway below |
| Map of the 101 Freeway Area of Palo Alto |
| The other way to get across the freeway, except when flooded |
| The opening to the footbridge |
| The bridge that separates Palo Alto and East Palo Alto at Newell Road is not very inviting for pedestrians |
| circa 1965 |
| 2007 |
| Sources: Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Historical Association |