The Cupertino Courier

News

Footbridge on Mary Avenue set for spring construction

By HUGH BIGGAR

Cupertino is set to have a new landmark, one that frames the mountains for those driving on Highway 280.

In the spring of 2007, construction is scheduled to begin on the Mary Avenue Bicycle Pedestrian Footbridge. Designed by the firm Biggs Cardosa, the cable-stayed footbridge is to include two soaring white towers over Highway 280, with the bridge connecting Cupertino and Sunnyvale just south of Highway 85.

"The design is 90 percent complete and it's pretty unique," said Terry Green, Cupertino's city architect. "I've been told by Caltrans it's the first one of its kind to span a freeway in California."

"Aesthetically, there isn't anything like it in the South Bay. Many projects look like concrete bunkers," said David Simons, who lives on Mary Avenue.

Green also said the bridge has yet to be formally named, adding that process will be a "political hot potato."

Officials hope the bridge alleviates vehicle traffic congestion and encourages walking and biking to Homestead High School, Cupertino Middle School, De Anza College, the Oaks Shopping Center and jobs in Sunnyvale and Cupertino.

"We welcome these kind of projects from neighboring cities, since they encourage biking and walking and take cars off the road," John Pilger, Sunnyvale's public information officer, said.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the state of California are to pay for most of the cost of the approximately $10 million project. Cupertino originally expected to contribute $475,000 but Green said budget adjustments have raised that amount to more than $500,000. In part, unexpectedly high costs of steel for the steel and concrete bridge contributed to the cost overruns.

In addition to providing a freeway-spanning footbridge between Homestead Road and Meteor Drive, the bridge will create a park-like environment at its entrances.

"There will be native landscaping similar to California's uplands," Green said. With the trail leading to the bridge at an incline, oak and cypress trees are also to be planted to protect the privacy of residents below.

"I know neighbors have had some privacy concerns, but the designers have really gone out of their way with the landscaping [to accommodate them] in the designs I have seen," Simons said. "I'm ready with a bag of cement to get the project going if that's what it takes."

Cupertino and Sunnyvale residents will have a chance to see the bridge designs at Cupertino's Dec. 5 city council meeting. At the meeting, a model design, new renderings and a video of the project will be shown.