Mandela Parkway (Oakland, California)

USA / California / Emeryville / Oakland, California
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Offically opened to traffic on June 11, 1957 the Cypress Street (Viaduct) Freeway was the first double-decker freeway in the state. A 3 mile unit of the Eastshore Freeway built under three contracts totaling 15,250,000 million dollars. The Cypress had two levels the upper-level carried southbound traffic while the lower carried northbound traffic, with a roadway width of 52'. Parts of the Cypress was supported by a single base support while other parts had twin base supports.The Cypress Street viaduct collapsed on October 17, 1989 after the 7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake.The upper-level collapsed on the lower-level, the supports on the sides broke and split outward causing the upper-level to collapse. 42 motorists were killed in this catastrophic event. The Avenue is now known as the Mandela Parkway.

www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/Mandela/mandela.htm
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Coordinates:   37°48'54"N   122°17'27"W

Comments

  • This is not an epicenter of an earthquake. Also, don't be so cheerful, imagine how scared you would be if you saw a bridge collapse right in front of you.
  • the Mandela parkway is named after Nelson Mandela.
This article was last modified 6 years ago