Mokelumne Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Opens in Brentwood

BRENTWOOD, CA – Today, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (Authority) joined City of Brentwood and County of Contra Costa officials to cut the ribbon and officially open the recently completed Mokelumne Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing to the public.

Dozens of eagerly awaiting bicyclists and pedestrians joined the elected officials to make the inaugural bike/walk on the overcrossing. The bridge now provides safe access to cyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel and is part of the Mokelumne Trail.

The 850-foot bridge structure includes a wider trail-width of 16 feet to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians using the trail or accessing a potential future transit station. The bridge also meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards to support use by all community members.

“The opening of the Mokelumne Pedestrian Overcrossing marks a significant milestone for alternative and innovative transportation in Contra Costa County,” said CCTA Board Chair Newell Arnerich. “The bridge was designed for the future in mind: access to future development in Brentwood as well as creating a wider pathway to someday accommodate many forms of environmentally friendly travel, including autonomous shuttle vehicles.”

Photo by CCTA

The overcrossing also provides a connection to the planned Innovation Center at Brentwood, a 200+ acre parcel that city officials have zoned for employer and development partners to create a workplace community.

“The City of Brentwood is proud to have partnered with CCTA on this important project, which brings greater connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians in Eastern Contra Costa County. The project complements the City’s emphasis on innovation, safety and being financially wise—no city funds were used to construct the overcrossing,” said Mayor Joel Bryant.

The cost to design and build the bridge was approximately $13 million, with funding provided through Measure J taxpayer dollars, the State Route 4 Bypass Authority, and Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) bridge toll funds.

“Closing the gap between the Mokelumne Trail by constructing a bridge to span Highway 4 was a priority project for CCTA as the overcrossing allows safe access to cyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel,” said CCTA Executive Director Tim Haile. “This project represents CCTA’s commitment to improving mobility and furthering safe and accessible transportation for all.”

March 19, 2022 – Construction Begins on Highway 4 Overcrossing to Reconnect the Mokelumne Trail

Brentwood, CA – In partnership with the City of Brentwood, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) broke ground Friday on the Mokelumne Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing. The bridge will provide safe access to cyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel, reconnecting two sides of the trail that were separated by the expansion of Highway 4.

The Mokelumne Trail runs from the Martinez Regional Shoreline to the north, Oakland to the west, and Antioch to the east, passing through Brentwood. The existing Mokelumne Trail segment in the overcrossing project area is part of the larger Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail that will, when completed, connect six counties across California from the East Bay to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local elected officials and marked the beginning of the construction period. With an estimated completion in early 2023, this project will have one of the shortest construction timelines in CCTA’s history. The 850-foot bridge structure includes a wider trail width of sixteen feet to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians using the trail or accessing a potential future transit station, and meets American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards to support use by all community members.

“This new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing will improve the community’s connections to nature, jobs, housing, and transit opportunities – and serves as an example of what can be accomplished through collaboration,” says Contra Costa Transportation Authority Board Chair Chris Kelley. “But just as important, this bridge is designed with the future in mind and could accommodate potential future autonomous shuttles as well as bicycles and pedestrians to help local residents get where they need to go.”

Options for Brentwood’s East County Intermodal Transit Center are currently being evaluated as part of the East County Integrated Transit Study. The overcrossing also provides a connection to the planned Innovation Center at Brentwood, a 200+ acre parcel that city officials have zoned for employer and development partners to create a workplace community.

“Brentwood is a phenomenal location in proximity to Bay Area economic centers and gems of outdoor recreation. This overcrossing represents the first stage in a vision for Brentwood centered around easy access to the greater Bay Area. Creating options for residents and visitors to travel to and around Brentwood is central to that vision,” says Brentwood Mayor, Joel Bryant.

Project funding has been provided through Measure J taxpayer dollars, the State Route 4 Bypass Authority, and bridge toll funds.

Project Info

CONSTRUCTION START: March 2022
ANTICIPATED COMPLETION: Early 2023

The cost to design and build the bridge is approximately $13 million, with funding provided through Measure J taxpayer dollars, the State Route 4 Bypass Authority, and bridge toll funds.

Project Fact Sheet – click here

About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.