Cypress Street Viaduct, Former highway in California
The Cypress Street Viaduct was a double-deck freeway in Oakland that carried traffic above the city streets. The concrete and steel structure was built to handle the growing number of vehicles moving through the region.
The viaduct opened in 1957 as part of the nation's expanding freeway system. It collapsed on October 17, 1989, during the Loma Prieta earthquake, resulting in significant loss of life and prompting major changes in how such structures are built.
Its collapse forced a reevaluation of US urban highway design and engineering.
The site is no longer accessible as a standing structure, since the viaduct no longer exists. Today, the area has been redesigned and transformed into a tree-lined boulevard that you can walk through.
A preserved section of the original structure is on display at the Oakland Museum of California, showing what it looked like up close. This piece serves as a stark reminder of both the engineering and the fragility of such massive roadways.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
