CCTA begins construction on Highway 4 overcrossing to reconnect the Mokelumne Trail

Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the city of Brentwood, Calif., broke ground 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 complete, 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 16 feet to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians using the trail or accessing potential future transit, and meets Americans 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,” said CCTA 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-plus 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,” said Brentwood Mayor Joel Bryant.

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