A new bridge across La Rue Road over the Arboretum Waterway onto California Avenue recently replaced a 70-year-old structure. The two-year construction project brought with it necessary improvements and takes inspiration from an older bridge nearby. Campus landscape architect Christina De Martini Reyes designed the new bridge and described the design back in 2019 as “a big, graceful idea in a contrasting material that would stand out enough to make an impact but be understated at the same time.”
Photography by Anjie Cook/UC Davis
![A car crosses a two-lane bridge.](/sites/default/files/media/images/La-Rue-Bridge-street-web.jpg)
Wider Sidewalks and New Bike Lanes
The new bridge features wider sidewalks and new bike lanes on each side, as well as safety barriers placed between the bikers and pedestrians. Previously, cars shared the limited space with bicyclists.
![Photo from underneath a bridge showing a path running by along with a waterway.](/sites/default/files/media/images/La-Rue-Bridge-underside-web.jpg)
More Headroom
Paths underneath the bridge were recently regraded and lowered to allow for more headroom. In the past, people crossing through needed to duck their heads due to lack of space below the bridge.
![Photo of a concrete path through a wooded area, with a concrete stairway rising from it perpendicular to the path.](/sites/default/files/media/images/La-Rue-Bridge-Stairs-web.jpg)
New Staircases
The bridge project also improved upon the steep ramps down and up from the paths along the waterway. Two ramps are now universally accessible, and the other two — which had been the steepest — have been converted to staircases.