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In an effort to improve northbound Interstate 880 access to Alameda, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and CalTrans has proposed reconstructing access to I-880 at 23rd and 29th avenues, located just across from the Park Street Bridge. The city of Alameda and the Alameda County Transportation Commission held four public meetings over the past four years to address this project, with the last meeting in March 2011. Construction on northbound I-880 at 23rd and 29th avenues is expected to get underway sometime this year, according to the CalTrans website.

Currently, two freeway overpasses at 23rd Avenue provide drivers with four lanes in addition to a direct onramp onto northbound I-880. The proposed project would replace these overpasses with a single three-lane bridge equipped with a traffic signal that would allow drivers access to a new northbound I-880 onramp. At 29th Avenue, the MTC proposes that the current two-lane overpass be demolished and replaced with a four-lane bridge. All this would allow drivers easier access to Alameda and to avoid use of residential streets in Oakland.

The plans would divert traffic onto 29th Avenue and off 23rd Avenue. Additionally, the new northbound I-880 exit at 29th Avenue would eliminate the need for drivers to make a U-turn at the 23rd Avenue off ramp signal in order to reach the Park Street Bridge.

"Currently, motorists do not have a direct connection to the 29th Street offramp and have to perform circuitous travel on Oakland streets to get to Alameda," said Matthew Naclerio, Alameda's public works director in a letter to a citizen expressing concern over the project.

"This project will provide a direct off ramp connection to 29th Street and will provide dual left turns toward Alameda. In addition, the project is intended to eliminate the use of Oakland's residential streets to access the northbound onramp at 29th Avenue going eastbound on 29th Avenue," said Naclerio.

Some Alameda residents have voiced concerns regarding the project and the impact it will have on traffic in Alameda. Traffic analysis and models by the MTC indicate that eastbound Alameda traffic will increase along Park Street, and will have a significant impact at the intersection of Park Street and Clement Avenue.

"The project's own traffic model shows that the impact on eastbound Alameda traffic knowingly will increase a backlog along Park Street and feeder streets in Alameda by 10 to 20 percent," said Jim Strehlow.

The construction along the northbound I-880 at 23rd Avenue would reduce the current four lanes along bridges to three lanes with a traffic signal. "Instead of a free flowing entrance onto the I-880 for nonrush hour traffic, vehicles will have to wait at a new traffic signal on the bridge. Traffic models show that the redesign can back up traffic all the way into Alameda," said Strehlow.

The MTC's intention is to eliminate the need for drivers to use 23rd Avenue to access the Park Street bridge to enter Alameda. However, any traffic problems at the proposed 29th Avenue exit could also be a hindrance for Alameda-bound drivers. Were there any traffic problems at 29th Avenue, "drivers would be forced to drive around in circles," said Strehlow.