Enjoy the Outdoors at Benicia State Recreation Area
The Benicia State Recreation Area resides along the narrowest part of the Carquinez Strait. It features grassy hillsides, marshlands, and rocky beaches. Outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts enjoy the two and a half miles of bike paths and paved roads – perfect for walkers, runners, cyclists, and roller skaters. Other attractions include fishing and bird watching, especially in the marsh along Dillion’s Point. Botanical gardens are in full bloom at certain times of the year. Dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed.
The Benicia State Recreation Area is one and a half miles west, on the outskirts of the city of Benicia on Interstate 780. It is located off the Columbus Parkway Exit.
Bay Area weather is mercurial: it is always a good idea to layer.
Below is a YouTube video highlighting the Benicia State Recreation Area.
Take a Hike for Amazing Views
Part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail spans from the Benicia State Recreation Area to the Carquinez Overlook. The trail is just under nine miles out and back and is moderately trafficked. The trail is good for all skill levels and offers incredibly scenic views of the bridge and the Carquinez Strait.
The Carquinez Strait
The Carquinez Strait is a narrow waterway and part of the estuary of the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers that flow into the San Francisco Bay. The strait is approximately eight miles long. It connects San Pablo Bay with Suisun Bay, where the waters from the combined rivers drain.
It has been claimed by some geologists that the Carquinez Strait was likely formed when much of modern California was just coming out of an ice age, approximately 650,000 to 700,000 years ago. At that time, an inland lake engulfed what is now the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys.
History of the Carquinez Bridge
The Carquinez Bridge is actually two bridges that run parallel to span the Carquinez Strait. They form a portion of Interstate 80. Originally, the Carquinez bridge was one cantilever bridge constructed in 1927, as part of the direct route between Sacramento and San Francisco. Due to an increase in traffic, a second parallel cantilever bridge was built in 1958.
Seismic problems rendered the 1927 structure unsafe in the event of an earthquake. As a result, a replacement was built; it opened in 2003 and is a suspension bridge with the official name of the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge. Al Zampa was an ironworker who was a key figure in the construction of several San Francisco Bay Area bridges. The Alfred Zampa Bridge transports westbound traffic, and the 1958 cantilever portion carries eastbound vehicles.
Trouble on the Carquinez Bridge
Within the past year, six lives have been lost on the Carquinez Bridge. Kyle Erickson, Cecilia Ayla, Christopher Mata, Jesus Berris II, and Perla Navarro and her unborn baby, all were occupants of vehicles that went over a low concrete barrier wall on a curved portion of the bridge. In total, three vehicles have gone over that barrier in the past year. The tragedies have spurred the widow of Jesus Berrios II to start a petition to have a higher guard rail, or barrier wall erected to prevent further loss of life.
Benicia Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Benicia, California. Car accidents can cause significant, sometimes fatal injuries. If a negligent driver caused you or a family member to suffer injuries, I can offer free and friendly advice. Call my office at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400. I also have an online contact form if you would rather communicate electronically.
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Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/couple-romance-love-together-bench-336655/
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