Estuary Bridges

The Alameda County Public Works Agency operates and maintains six drawbridges over the Oakland-Alameda Estuary. Four of the bridges are for vehicle traffic, one bridge is for trains, and one bridge is exclusively for bicycles and pedestrians.  

 

Openings Per Year

Northbound Vehicle Traffic/Day

Southbound Traffic/Day

Busiest Hour Northbound

Busiest Hour Southbound

Park Street Bridge

1,755

21,400 vehicles

16,750 vehicles

7:30-8:30 am

4:45-5:45 pm

Miller-Sweeney (Fruitvale) Bridge

1,588

6,400 vehicles

8,750 vehicles

7:30-8:30 am

5:00-6:00 pm

High Street Bridge

1,500

12,400 vehicles

13,588 vehicles

8:00-9:00 am

5:00-6:00 pm

Contact: 510-522-7282

https://www.acpwa.org/programs-services/maintenance/estuary-bridges.page

The Park Street Bridge shall open on signal; except that, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Monday through Friday except federal holidays, the draws need not be open for the passage of vessels. However, the draws shall open for the above closed periods for vessels which must, for reasons of safety, move on a tide or slack water, if at least two hours’ notice is given. The draws shall open as soon as possible for commercial vessels engaged in rescue or emergency salvage operations.

The bridge is manned by an alternating four person crew. The bridge is equipped with a Marine Radio, the preferred working channel in the San Francisco Bay Area is Channel 9 and Channel 16 is used for hailing and distress. Vessels can also gain a bridge opening by using a horn. The signal is a long blast followed by a short blast. Signal flags and lights may also be used if Coast Guard approved methods are followed. For more information on drawbridge operations, see "California Drawbridge Regulations" by the Coast Guard. Although draw bridges are required to open for vessel traffic even if that means that vehicular traffic must wait, there are some exceptions to this rule.

Contact: 510-533-1126

https://www.acpwa.org/programs-services/maintenance/estuary-bridges.page

The High Street Bridge shall open on signal; except that, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays, the draws need not be open for the passage of vessels. However, the draws shall open for the above closed periods for vessels which must, for reasons of safety, move on a tide or slack water, if at least two hours’ notice is given. The draws shall open as soon as possible for commercial vessels engaged in rescue or emergency salvage operations.

The bridge is manned by an alternating four person crew. The bridge is equipped with a Marine Radio, the preferred working channel in the San Francisco Bay Area is Channel 9 and Channel 16 is used for hailing and distress. Vessels can also gain a bridge opening by using a horn. The signal is a long blast followed by a short blast. Signal flags and lights may also be used if Coast Guard approved methods are followed. 

Contact: 510-533-7858

https://www.acpwa.org/programs-services/maintenance/estuary-bridges.page

The Miller-Sweeney Bridge shall open on signal; except that, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Monday through Friday except federal holidays, the draws need not be open for the passage of vessels. However, the draws shall open for the above closed periods for vessels which must, for reasons of safety, move on a tide or slack water, if at least two hours’ notice is given. The draws shall open as soon as possible for commercial vessels engaged in rescue or emergency salvage operations.

The bridge is manned by an alternating four person crew. The bridge is equipped with a Marine Radio, the preferred working channel in the San Francisco Bay Area is Channel 9 and Channel 16 is used for hailing and distress. Vessels can also gain a bridge opening by using a horn. The signal is a long blast followed by a short blast. Signal flags and lights may also be used if Coast Guard approved methods are followed. 

Contact: 510-522-2969

https://www.acpwa.org/programs-services/maintenance/estuary-bridges.page

The Bay Farm Island Bridge shall open on signal; except that, from 5 am to 8 am and 5 pm to 9 pm, the draw shall open on signal if at least 12 hours’ notice is given. Notice shall be given to the bridgetender of the Bay Farm Island Bridge from 8 am to 5 pm and to the bridgetender of the Park Street Bridge at Alameda at all other times. The draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels from 9 pm to 5 am.

The bridge is manned by an alternating two person crew. The bridge is equipped with a Marine Radio, the preferred working channel in the San Francisco Bay Area is Channel 9 and Channel 16 is used for hailing and distress. Vessels can also gain a bridge opening by using a horn. The signal is a long blast followed by a short blast. Signal flags and lights may also be used if Coast Guard approved methods are followed. 

https://www.acpwa.org/programs-services/maintenance/estuary-bridges.page

The Bicycle Bridge operates on the same schedule as the Bay Farm Island Bridge. The bridge shall open on signal; except that, from 5 am to 8 am and 5 pm to 9 pm, the draw shall open on signal if at least 12 hours’ notice is given. Notice shall be given to the bridge-tender of the Bay Farm Island Bridge from 8 am to 5 pm and to the bridge-tender of the Park Street Bridge at Alameda at all other times. The draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels from 9 pm to 5 am.

No powered vehicles are allowed on the Bicycle Bridge except powered wheelchairs. The speed limit for bicycles is 20 mph.