The Cupertino Courier

News

Mary Avenue Bridge project set to begin in January

By Crystal Lu

Construction on the long-planned Mary Avenue Bicycle Bridge will begin next January and is scheduled to be completed by December 2008.

The Cupertino City Council on Nov. 20 voted unanimously to award the $14.8 million project to Golden State Bridge Inc. after formally accepting a budget augmentation of $3.35 million from the Valley Transportation Authority. The total contribution from the VTA, according to a staff report, is $10.4 million.

"It's a regional project," said Vice Mayor Dolly Sandoval, who also serves on the VTAboard.

According to a 2001 study cited in the Cupertino city staff report, the annual usage of the bridge would be about 126,200 bicycles and 65,200 pedestrians. Approximately half of them would come from Sunnyvale. The bridge will span Interstate 280 and connect the two cities.

The city of Sunnyvale agreed to contribute $190,000 to the project after a personal plea from Cupertino council members.

The council, at its Nov. 20 meeting, also authorized City Manager David Knapp to negotiate and execute a contract with Aidala Studios for the fabrication of the project sculptures and a contract with HNTB Inc. for architectural and engineering services during construction.

All the Cupertino residents present at the Nov. 20 meeting applauded the council's approval vote.

"It's vision thing for the city, a symbol for our community," said resident Scott Stauffer.