Foreshadowing a Freeway and BART

A SN motor and wrecker returning from a derailment speed through Temescal Cut in Chabot Canyon heading to 40th and Shafter. The subject will be the changes in Chabot Canyon as the Shafter-Grove Freeway and BART became a reality. North View from Broadway, July 2, 1942.

L102-05-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 77083sn, (Image 1 of 21)

Comparative maps for images to follow.

L102-06-Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library , (Image 2 of 21)

This circa 1925 southwest image in Chabot Canyon includes the SN Roble Rd. grade crossing and evidence for at least three homes that can be identified- the chimney to the right is the Guy Hyde Chick house; the next chimney to the left is the George Mott, Jr. House; and the B.D. Marx Greene house is along the left or east edge. More details about these homes in the history section series of “Missing from Chabot Canyon”.

L102-08-Eston Cheney Photo D-1380-C, Courtesy John Bosko, Detail, (Image 3 of 21)

A big event for the canyon was the Broadway Low-level Tunnel Groundbreaking, June, 1934. A hint for the location of this north view is found to the left of the left eucalyptus tree, below the branches ...

L102-10-Copyright California Department of Transportation, B48, (Image 4 of 21)

Once you recognize the Claremont Tunnel portal, the EBMUD Claremont Laboratory, and the SN overpass of the extension of Golden Gate Ave., this land is where College Preparatory School now resides, with Golden Gate Ave. heading up, and Eustice Ave. heading down. Broadway Low-level Tunnel Groundbreaking, June, 1934, north view.

L102-15-Copyright California Department of Transportation, B48, (Image 5 of 21)

As of 1935, the homes at risk for demolition due to the construction of Highway 24 and BART in Chabot Canyon were primarily east of Golden Gate Ave., green square, between Chabot Road, red arrow, and the extension of Broadway, blue arrow, being built to the new tunnel.

L102-20-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park Dist, (Image 6 of 21)

Unlike the east view, a west view from Tunnel Rd. into Chabot Canyon at the time of completion of the Broadway Low-level Tunnel in Dec. 1937 is obscured by the large grove of eucalyptus trees that still marks this spot today.

L102-25-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 454-5, (Image 7 of 21)

Views to the south, left, and northwest, right, reveal outlines of the homes in the canyon circa 1940. The blue arrow marks Chabot Rd., the yellow arrow the Roble Rd.-SN grade crossing, and the green and black dots, the Chabot Rd. intersections of Roble Rd. and Marie Way, respectively.

L102-30-Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 8 of 21)

By 1956, left panel, homes now populate both sides of Chabot Rd. just east of the intersection with Golden Gate Ave., black box, and will eventually be cleared for the construction of BART, as seen in the right panel. The homes further east on the south side of Chabot Rd., white box, will also be removed for freeway construction.

L102-35-RM Towill Photo, Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, U. Cal., Berkeley and Google Maps, (Image 9 of 21)

All appears quiet at the east end of Chabot Canyon in this east view from Aug. 19, 1963.

L102-40-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 9973-2 , (Image 10 of 21)

A detail of the east end of the canyon from L102-40 reveals two homes remaining on the south side of Chabot Rd. relative to the 1956 aerial. The prominent home on the south side center is the B.D. Marx Greene house. East view, Aug. 19, 1963.

L102-45-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 9973-2 Detail, (Image 11 of 21)

Meanwhile, work is getting started at Rockridge Curve on BART in this north view from Apr. 1965, at the same time the first phase of the test track is being completed in Concord. It is not known if the water in the foreground is from Temescal Creek.

L102-50-Louis L Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85613BARTD, (Image 12 of 21)

Approximately two months later, June 1965, the BART Berkeley hills west tunnel portal as seen in this north view.

L102-55-Louis L Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85611BARTD, (Image 13 of 21)

Construction at the BART west portal continues, July 1965, northeast view. Dirt from the tunnel or the right-of-way appears to be being dumped to the canyon floor. The structure in the foreground superimposes on the path of BART to the Rockridge station.

L102-60-Louis L Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85612BARTD, (Image 14 of 21)

Grading of the freeway and south hill is caught mid-canyon in this west view from July 21, 1967. No homes appear to remain on the south side of Chabot Rd. in the path of the construction.

L102-65-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 13947-1, Detail , (Image 15 of 21)

This detail of L102-65 shows BART’s route taking shape, while there is nothing visible for the former SN right-of-way with the exception of the section east of Golden Gate Ave. at the right corner of the image. West view from Jul 21, 1967. The culvert separating the ball field and school from the construction corresponds to Temescal Creek, leaving only the bridge it flowed under at Golden Gate Ave.

L102-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 13947-2, Detail, (Image 16 of 21)

Almost three years later, Feb. 1968, and nothing on the surface has changed from mid-1965 in this north view.

L102-75-Louis L Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 85616BARTD, (Image 17 of 21)

This northeast aerial provides a panoramic overview of the BART and freeway construction on Apr. 11, 1968.

L102-80-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 14629-2, Detail, (Image 18 of 21)

The area south of Chabot Rd. is obscured by upper Rockridge in this detail from L102-80, a northeast view from Apr. 11, 1968.

L102-85-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 14629-2, Detail , (Image 19 of 21)

Another Apr. 11, 1968 northeast aerial further to the east shows grading of Hiller Highlands, and completion of the new freeway starting at the first curve toward tunnel.

L102-90-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 14629-1 , (Image 20 of 21)

A detail of L102-90, northeast view from Apr. 11, 1968 shows the eastern end of Chabot Canyon and adjacent Lake Temescal. There is still no sign of construction of the freeway in this section, again revealing it as the last section to be altered between Rockridge and he Caldecott Tunnel. Appreciation to David Gowen for his helpful comments.

L102-95-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 14629-1, Detail , (Image 21 of 21)