Stevens Creek Trail Bridge, Mountain View

The Project

The Stevens Creek Trail Reach 3 Project extends from Whisman School and Park to Landels School and Park in the City of Mountain View with total length of 1.5 miles. It includes flood and riparian habitat mitigation, asphalt and concrete trail, structures, and landscaping along Stevens Creek adjacent to I-880. Structures that are part of this trail include; two tie back walls under the Caltrans freeway bridges, an undercrossing at Middlefield Road, a pedestrian overcrossing at Central Expressway and Evelyn Avenue, and three pedestrian bridges across Stevens Creek.

The Challenges

A considerable project challenge was to design a bridge to span the Central Expressway, Evelyn Avenue, the JPB railroad and the BTA light rail. In addition, to avoid an at-grade crossing required to design a portion of the trail to go under existing bridges. To maintain standard vertical clearance this portion of the trail is below the 50-year flood level.

The Results

An impressive 1,200-foot long bicycle/pedestrian bridge was designed to span the roadways and rail lines. This structure is comprised of seven individual pre-fabricated steel truss spans, typically 180-feet long, supported on cast-in-place, reinforced concrete piers. To protect both the river and the trail where the trail falls below the 50-year flood level, tieback walls were used to cut into existing embankment to create room for the proposed trail. Fold down railings and gates were specially designed for these segments. During a flood the trail will be closed and the railing can be folded down manually in order not to impact the river flow.