Turning a freeway into a magnificent boulevard

Christchurch's city councillors have concluded their tour of California. It would have been great if Len and his troupe of councillors could have joined them, instead of hanging out in the town hall, scrapping about plastic wakas and unrealistic rail tunnels. Auckland could learn a great deal from San Francisco. It is a global city that we should aspire to.

San Francisco, California
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake caused widespread damage to San Francisco, and sadly, claimed many lives. Just take a look at the NBC clip below:

But it also had a silver lining.

Prior to this event, San Francisco had a hideous, double-decker freeway along its waterfront. The first section of this freeway was opened in 1959, originally meaning to be part of America's great interstate system. The entire freeway was proposed to stretch to the Golden Gate Bridge, but was never completed.

San Francisco Bay, California.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010).

San Franciscans hated this freeway from the very beginning. It cut the city off from its idyllic, picturesque waterfront, and one of its finest structures, the Ferry Building.

Birds eye view of the Embarcadero Freeway. Note how it acts as a barrier, separating the ferry building and waterfront from the city.
Congress for New Urbanism (1997-2011)

Street level view of the Embarcadero Freeway
Congress for New Urbanism (1997-2011)

Embarcadero Freeway
Berkeley University (1991)

The citizens of San Francisco tried unsuccessfully for years to get this freeway demolished, when finally, in 1989, mother nature answered their prayers.

The freeway was heavily damaged by the Loma Prieta Earthquake. The price tag to replace it was in the vicinity of U.S$65,000 (Congress for New Urbanism, 1997-2011). So, the authorities opted to build a multi-laned boulevard instead (Congress for New Urbanism, 1997-2011).

And what a job they did.

These are some pictures of The Embarcadero in San Francisco:

Trams on The Embarcadero
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

Wide sidewalks on The Embarcadero
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

San Francisco Ferry Building on The Embarcadero
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

Open Space and The Embarcadero Centre, from The Embarcadero
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

The Embarcadero by night.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010).

Restored port buildings on The Embarcadero
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

As you can see from the pictures, The Embarcadero even has trams. The stunning San Francisco Ferry Building has been restored to its former glory. It now houses a food market, and several restaurants.

The Embarcadero economically revitalised the waterfront and reconnected it with the city. Former derelict port buildings have been given new life. The San Francisco waterfront is now a major destination for both tourists and locals alike.

Auckland's Quay Street should be like this. Currently, it has an industrial heap (the port) on one side, and ugly office towers on the other.

Imagine what Auckland could become if we made this into our premier boulevard. It shouldn't take an earthquake for Auckland to get its act together.

Information about, and first two images of the Embarcadero Freeway: CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM. 1997-2011. San Francisco's Embarcadero [Online]. Available: http://www.cnu.org/highways/sfembarcadero [Accessed 01/06/2011].


Last image of the Embarcadero Freeway: BERKELEY UNIVERSITY. 1991. Embarcadero Freeway [Online]. Available: http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/GeoImages/BainCalif/Cal400/embfwy.html [Accessed 01/06/2011].