Collaborative effort facilitates completion of Willow Glen Way bridge

Date: Feb. 28, 2007

SANTA CLARA COUNTY—The Santa Clara Valley Water District and City of San José have completed construction of a $3 million project to replace the Willow Glen Way bridge over the Guadalupe River.

To celebrate the completion, the water district will host a ceremony 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, March 3, at the new bridge.  The event is open to the community.

Part of the future Upper Guadalupe River Flood Protection Project, the aesthetically enhanced bridge improves traffic and pedestrian safety and will one day help provide flood protection from Interstate 280 to Blossom Hill Road. 

Willow Glen residents Bob and Harriet Jakovina were directly engaged in shaping the design of the bridge.  "We sincerely hope the community enjoys this new bridge, because between the architect, the citizens, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the City of San José, we feel we have created a beautiful entrance to Willow Glen,” said the Jakovinas.

The new bridge replaces a bridge constructed in 1914 and repaired in 1974.  With a longer span measuring 116 feet long and 50 feet wide, it is approximately 50 feet longer and has sidewalks on both sides of the bridge for pedestrian walkways and bike lanes.  The longer-span bridge accommodates channel widening planned for the Upper Guadalupe River Flood Protection Project which has not yet begun due to lack of federal funding. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified the Willow Glen Way bridge as a structure that should be replaced as part of the overall flood protection project along the Upper Guadalupe River.  The bridge replacement was funded by a grant from the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation program and cost-sharing by the water district’s Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan and the City of San José.

“Like most good community projects, the partnerships with the City of San Jose and the Willow Glen residents contributed to the successful completion of the bridge,” said Tony Estremera, chairman of the water district board of directors.

“We are truly proud of this bridge and know it will serve the Willow Glen community for many generations to come.”

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages the county’s major watersheds, including 10 reservoirs, more than 800 miles of streams and large groundwater basins. The water district also provides flood protection throughout Santa ClaraCounty.