A link for commuters, a connection for pedestrians

The Skyway features a 15.5-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path with seven viewing platforms allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to enjoy previously unavailable views of the Bay and hills.

measures improved water and habitat quality for the Emeryville Crescent Marsh and the adjacent San Francisco Bay.

American Bridge and Fluor Enterprises.

“Products and procedures were carefully chosen to ensure the construction cycle could be performed with as little impact as possible,” said Mike Flowers, project director for the American Bridge/Fluor Enterprises Joint Venture.

The team used biodegradable

hydraulic oil in all equipment, cranes and jacking systems and diesel engines are Tier III compliant for emissions. The contractors provided secondary containment beneath equipment to limit pollution when it was near bay waters.

Contractor C.C. Myers, Inc. used recycled materials during the construction of a temporary bypass that will divert existing I-80 bridge traffic to the south of the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel. The half-mile bypass is expected to be complete by December 2010.

“A significant portion of the [bypass project] is the demolition of the existing bridge, and every ounce of those materials is recycled,” said Bob Coupe, Northern California Operations Manager for C.C. Myers, Inc. Wood and steel go to recyclers and concrete gets crushed for use in aggregate products. “We’re basically not taking anything to the landfill,” Coupe said.

Controlling water quality

The project team implemented a detailed Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan to ensure that pollutants aren’t picked up by rain- water and transported to the bay. Storm drain filter inlets catch particle- laden water while catch basins collect and treat stormwater runoff from 143 acres of the bridge approach. These

Silt fences, fiber rolls and slope stabilization control erosion by preventing sediment from leaving the construction site. Other efforts include backup systems for fuel storage, prevention of hydrocarbon runoff and platforms to control mud during excavation.

Environmental HIGHLIGHTS

• EPA award for use of recycled fly ash

• Water-quality control through erosion and stormwater management

• Fish and marine mammal protection

• Protection of eelgrass, a crucial part of the Bay’s ecosystem

• Fencing and signage to denote sensitive areas

• Critical pile-driving operations scheduled outside of mating seasons

• Platforms built under east span to serve as nesting habitats for birds

Plant protection

“Surrounding [Yerba Buena Island] are several eelgrass beds that have been designated as sensitive areas during the bypass construction,” Coupe said.

The protection of eelgrass has been critical in this project. This plant serves as an important marine habitat and improves water quality. Remote turbidity monitoring is being used to measure changes in water quality, which can affect eelgrass. g&c

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