Decades of Advocacy Finally Pay Off
For years, even decades, Berkeley’s bike commuters and enthusiasts have sought to get bicycle safety improvements along Milvia Street, its most widely used bicycle boulevard. Finally, that advocacy has paid off and construction on the project, which is part of the City’s 2017 Bicycle Plan, is underway.
Milvia Street runs parallel to the U.C. Berkeley campus and downtown. It runs along one side of Berkeley High. These are all areas that require a safe passage. The street is an essential part of the city’s bicycle network and functions as a link between downtown’s protected bike lanes and other biking boulevards across Berkeley. Despite having some bicycle infrastructure, Milvia Street historically was the setting for a number of bicycle accidents.
Finally, on December 3, 2020, there was unanimous approval by the Berkeley City Council to install protected bikeways along twelve blocks of Milvia Street, between Blake Street and Hearst Avenue. The protected lanes will be on both sides of the street, and the design will also result in less traffic due to certain blocks being converted to one-way streets. The approval came after decades of advocacy and will allow a safer commute through the very congested area.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below highlights the City of Berkeley’s bicycle boulevards.
Construction of Milvia Street Improvements Underway
Work to convert certain portions of Milvia Street to single-lane began in May. Additionally, concrete barriers are being constructed to protect bicyclists from vehicle traffic. A number of parking spots will be relocated so that they can function as bike lane buffers. The estimated completion date for the project is January 2022. The bike lanes on Milvia will be the first in the city to be protected by a continuous buffer of concrete. Other significant parts of the project include:
- A loading zone at Berkeley High School.
- Elimination of the slip right-turn at Milvia and Allston. Drivers will now have to stop on a red before executing a right turn.
Project Construction Details
The project is known as the Milvia Bikeway project and its goal is to improve access and safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists on the one-mile section of Milvia Street from Hearst Avenue to Blake Street. The final project plans were approved by the City Council in January, and the contract was awarded to Sposeto Engineering, Inc.
The Project’s Schedule
The plan is for the project to be constructed in phases which will progress primarily from Blake Street, the south end of the site, to Hearst Avenue, the north end. The work will be done with the intent to keep disruptions to affected businesses and neighbors to a minimum. The work will be performed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The general schedule, for which notices of construction have been issued to residences and businesses, is as follows:
- Phase 1: West side of the street from Haste to Blake. Work began the week of May 17, 2021.
- Phase 2: West side of the street from Allston to Channing. Work began the week of June 7, 2021.
- Phase 3: East side of the street from Allston to Channing. Work scheduled to begin the week of July 12, 2021.
Milvia Street Project Objectives
The goals of the Milvia Bikeway project are to:
- Make improvements to safety for everyone who will use Milvia Street.
- Provide a better walking and bicycling experience for people of all ages and abilities.
- Encourage walking and bicycling instead of vehicle travel by making improvements to accessibility and connectivity.
- Support and maintain the corridor’s economic vitality.
Berkeley Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Hello – I’m Ed Smith, a Berkeley personal injury lawyer. For nearly four decades, my law firm has advocated for injured Northern Californians. If you would like free and friendly advice following a bicycle, pedestrian, or motor vehicle accident in which you sustained injuries, call us at (510) 631-0200 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/bike-traffic-bike-lane-bicycle-1687088/
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