San Francisco: Removal of the Embarcadero Freeway

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

San Francisco: Removal of the Embarcadero Freeway

In 1989, a 7.1 earthquake struck the Bay Area which severely damaged many of its elevated highway structures. The Embarcadero Freeway - an ugly, double-decked highway - was replaced with a grand boulevard which emphasizes access to the waterfront and provides people with transportation options like walking, mass transit, and bicycling instead of an emphasis personal vehicle use. In this 12 minute mini-doc, you'll see some of the dramatic changes and how all users benefit when planning takes a pedestrian and people-first attitude.

Just look at these BEFORE and AFTER shots!

Also discussed: Octavia Boulevard which replaced part of the former-Central Freeway.

NSFW

This is really nice. I lived in SF during this period and originally I thought.. How can we get rid of the freeway? Its going to be a disaster. Well, good thing there are people who know what they are doing. The embarcadero has become a great mixed use area. Of course a beautiful setting helps. I just hope more development in Brooklyn takes all of the factors that were used in creation of this area and to some extent the west side hwy.
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The Facts

Get the facts right Streetsfilms and Andy Thornley.

There were and continue to be paralyzing traffic jams as a result of the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway. Just go to SOMA and look. Plenty of traffic counts show this. It's incredible that the anti-car forces still spread this LIE.

Just goes to show that traffic doesn't go away.
Buckcameron01

There will always be traffic jams. There were paralyzing jams on the embarcadero fwy.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G7DHFK7AIAFNB6HUHFGYXQALUM RCC

I love how you edited the video to make it look the the Embarcadero Freeway crumbled & collapsed during the earthquake. Oh, wait. No I don't. You blatantly misrepresented the facts. Yes, the freeway was damaged. But it DID NOT crumble & and it certainly DID NOT collapse. The damage was NOT that bad. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's gone. But I can't stand when people distort the facts.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G7DHFK7AIAFNB6HUHFGYXQALUM RCC

Agreed. There may be one less freeway in San Francisco, but the amount of cars did not decrease. In fact, it's increased dramatically over the last 20 years. More cars+less freeway=more traffic. I-80 in downtown San Francisco & 101 north of Caesar Chavez are essentially parking lots.
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RobertL2

Tom Radulovich's statement that SF Chronicle columnist Herb Caen was one of the leaders of the "tear it down" movement is just wrong. In his column, Herb Caen actively opposed tearing down the Embarcadero Freeway on practical grounds, calling it an even worse idea than building it in the first place. Nevertheless Caen publicly appreciated the result of the freeway's ultimate removal following the Loma Prieta earthquake. The dedication of Herb Caen Way where the freeway used to run may be considered ironic by some, but that gesture was never part of Embarcadero Freeway politics. It was an expression of appreciation for someone the City had long ago taken to its heart.
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Fernando

25 years after San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro start, last january, the demolition of the elevator of perimetral way in front of the city.
The solution of the 50's reveals the troubles for all. Two beautiful cyties became exemples of ugliest views. Rio Olympic!!!
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http://hippieliberalfeminist.blogspot.com Calvin T Pooner

I am a big developer. Tearing down the freeway was a mistake. In fact I believe we should build more freeways. I think we should pave over Lake Merced and most of Golden Gate Park and turn it into a freeway. I also propose we build luxury condominiums that nobody can afford and build them out of the cheapest, least durable materials.
lars b amble

and 25 years later seattle still can't take a hint and learn the same lesson.
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