Local municipalities and agencies are expecting crowds — and traffic — for Fourth of July celebrations this Saturday. Planning to view fireworks further afield after the City of Piedmont’s parade and celebration this Saturday? We’ve compiled a list of some of the most impactful closures and restrictions in neighboring communities.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge, used by more than 100,000 vehicles a day on average, will be closed for a fireworks display to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding on July 4. The colorful explosives will be launched about 9:30 p.m. from the bridge’s towers and two barges in the bay below.
Portions of U.S. Highway 101 that feed into, across and out of the Golden Gate Bridge will be closed in both directions to all traffic including pedestrians and bicycles starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday to accommodate fireworks launching from the east side of the bridge. By 9 p.m. the bridge will be fully closed.
In a joint statement, Caltrans said Highway 101 will be closed between the northbound off-ramp at Lincoln Boulevard in San Francisco and southbound off-ramp at Spencer Avenue in Marin.
The statement also noted that the Bay Bridge, Interstate 280, and the rest of Highway 101 will remain open but strongly encourage drivers and visitors to use public transit to avoid delays and consider alternative routes in out and around San Francisco.
The California Highway Patrol will start deploying signs to inform drivers of the closures and delays. Traffic is expected to be heavy starting in the late afternoon and will continue to have significant congestion before the fireworks begin according to Caltrans.
The firework show from the bridge will commence between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. The bridge is scheduled to reopen again after 10 p.m.
Oakland
The Lake Merritt perimeter, downtown Oakland, and portions of the Oakland hills including Joaquin Miller Park, will be impacted by closures and restrictions.
According to a City of Oakland press release, the following major access changes are planned from 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 4:
- Lakeshore Avenue will be closed between MacArthur Boulevard and East 18th Street
- Beacon Street, Boden Way, Brooklyn Avenue, Wayne Avenue, Hanover Avenue, and the Lakeshore cul-de-sac will be closed at Lakeshore Avenue
- Beacon Street will also be closed at MacArthur Boulevard
- Grand Avenue will be closed to non-residents between MacArthur Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue East
- El Embarcadero will be closed
Additionally, no parking will be permitted on Lakeshore Avenue or Grand Avenue.
Also, on Friday, July 3, downtown Oakland road closures and diversions will be in effect starting at 6 p.m. to accommodate the monthly First Friday event.
Go HERE for more information about Oakland closures.
Berkeley
Non-resident access will be limited in parts of Berkeley on Saturday, especially in the hills neighborhoods — a popular destination for its sweeping Bay views along Grizzly Peak Boulevard.
From a City of Berkeley press release:
Fireworks are illegal in Berkeley and many surrounding cities. They can cause severe injuries and start fires. Explosives, sparklers, and other fireworks pose particular risks in the hills, where dry plants and shrubs can fuel fast-spreading fires.
To help better protect the hills, certain streets will be closed for 24 hours starting at 4 a.m. on July 4 and will reopen at 5 a.m. on July 5.
Access to the following streets will be limited mostly to residents in cars, on bikes, or on foot:
Grizzly Peak Boulevard, from Centennial Drive to Skyline Boulevard; Panoramic Way; Prospect Street.
Other popular areas in the Berkeley hills will also be closed for the holiday, including the Lawrence Hall of Science, the UC Botanical Garden, UC Berkeley campus hiking trails, the Tilden steam trains and the parking lot at the south end of Tilden Regional Park.
No stopping will be allowed along Grizzly Peak, where all turnouts will be closed.
Go HERE for more details about Berkeley closures.
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