June 16, 2022 - Berkeley Waterfront Clean California State Beautification Project
Caltrans, City of Berkeley Highlight $3.4 Million Clean California Project to Upgrade Berkeley Waterfront Gateway
BERKELEY — Caltrans and the City of Berkeley today celebrated a $3.4 million Clean California project that will upgrade and beautify the gateway entrance to the Berkeley Waterfront. This project is made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom's Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces.
“Thanks to Clean California, the City of Berkeley is improving its waterfront entrance through landscaping projects that include a new gateway monument,” said Caltrans Acting Director Steven Keck. “These improvements will welcome Berkeley residents and visitors to the waterfront and reflect Clean California’s efforts to create pride in public spaces.
The Berkeley Waterfront Beautification project will enhance the natural allure of the entrance to the waterfront through landscaping and planting, decorative rock features, fencing and a gateway monument. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 2024.
“The City of Berkeley is committed to improvements throughout our waterfront, and these improvements begin with the gateway,” said City of Berkeley City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley. “We just cut the ribbon on a separate $8 million street improvement project. Caltrans’ commitment to our Waterfront’s gateway has already improved the drivers experience when exiting at University Avenue and traveling along Frontage Road. We look forward to the additional landscaping and signage improvements that will soon take shape. We appreciate and remain grateful for the state’s partnership and funding.”
This project is among 126 Clean California beautification projects worth $312 million designed to transform communities and create connectivity along the state highway system. Additionally, in March, Governor Newsom announced 105 Clean California projects statewide funded through nearly $300 million in Clean California local grants to remove litter and transform public spaces in underserved communities. Collectively, these projects are expected to generate 7,200 jobs. Governor Newsom’s California Blueprint proposes an additional $100 million to fund a second round of Clean California local grant projects.
Since launching Clean California in July, Caltrans has removed nearly 700,000 cubic yards of litter from state highways – the equivalent of about 11,650 tons or enough to fill 212 Olympic-size swimming pools – and hired 721 new team members as part of Clean California, including 468 maintenance workers who collect litter and remove graffiti. For more information, visit CleanCA.com.
