East Shore Highway – Berkeley CA

Description

The first East Shore highway along the Berkeley waterfront was built by the New Deal in 1933-34, with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) and relief labor from the Civil Works Administration (CWA).

The PWA had financed the Bay Bridge and provide addition funds for access roads to the bridge from the East Bay, including the East Shore Highway. It was “one of the major arterials connecting with the San Francisco-East Bay Bridge,” according to a Berkeley Civic Affairs Report of 1933.

The WPA built the Berkeley Aquatic Park, which is formed by the causeway carrying the East Shore highway.  A tidal gate through the causeway allows water to enter and exit from the San Francisco bay to the aquatic park.  It was recently redone to improve circulation in the park embayment.