For the first time in decades, East Palo Alto residents on opposite sides of U.S. Highway 101 have a straightforward way to reach each other that does not involve squeezing along a skinny sidewalk next to a freeway ramp. A new 12-foot-wide pedestrian-and-bicycle bridge now arches over 101 at University Avenue, giving people walking and biking a dedicated, separated route and reconnecting neighborhoods that had been cut in two. Residents and officials marked the opening with a Nov. 22 ribbon-cutting, a milestone that followed years of planning and on-again, off-again construction.
According to the City of East Palo Alto, the U.S. 101/University Avenue Interchange and Pedestrian Overcrossing was awarded to MCM Construction in April 2023 and wrapped up this fall after a phased construction program. The city lists Measure A and Measure W allocations, a State SB‑1 Local Partnership Program award, federal bridge funds and a Stanford mitigation grant among the project’s payors. Project materials describe the new overcrossing as a Class I bikeway with ADA ramps that connect Woodland Avenue on the west to Donohoe Street on the east.
Ramps, lights and landscaping
Caltrans District 4 reports that as part of the overall interchange work, the agency widened the on and off ramps at University Avenue, reconstructed sections of the roadway, upgraded traffic signals and installed new street lighting. Final signage, permanent pavement striping, guardrails, irrigation and landscaping were finished in October as part of the roughly $14.6 million effort. Those upgrades were coordinated with the city to keep disruptions in check while crews put the new overcrossing into place.
Bridging a city split
Local reporting has long described Highway 101 as both a physical and economic barrier, with about 20–30% of East Palo Alto residents living on the west side nearest Palo Alto and effectively cut off from many services on the east side. The new overcrossing, the city’s second recent bike and pedestrian bridge after the Clarke Avenue project, replaces a perilous stretch where people once had to cross an onramp. Mayor Martha Barragan has called the old crossing dangerous and said the new span "brings joy and happiness" at the ribbon-cutting, according to The Almanac.
What to expect
City staff say they will keep an eye on the crossing as usage grows, monitoring it for maintenance and lighting needs, while nearby corridor improvements roll out as part of the broader University Avenue interchange project. The overcrossing now taps into existing bike routes and, officials say in City of East Palo Alto materials, should make it easier for people to reach City Hall, the YMCA and downtown Palo Alto destinations. Drivers dealt with periodic detours during construction, but officials say the interchange tweaks are intended to improve safety and traffic circulation along this stretch of U.S. 101.
