At the end of World War II[1], as the economy boomed and more people could afford automobiles, grand plans were made to create a freeway network throughout the United States. In 1948 the San Francisco Planning Department recommended a system of freeways, expressways and parkways that would have dissected the City. This original plan was re-conceptualized in 1951 and again in 1955. In 1956 the first half of the Embarcadero Freeway, a double-decker cement monstrosity that came off the Bay Bridge and ran along the Embarcadero (separating the City from the waterfront) was constructed. Soon after its completion opposition was swift and fierce, with 30,000 signatures gathered in the first year to take it down. Opposition to this freeway was so fierce that on January 27, 1959 the Board of Supervisors voted to cancel 7 of 9 planned freeways throughout the City, including the second half of the Embarcadero Freeway that would have connected the Bay Bridge[2] to the Golden Gate Bridge[3]. Other freeways that were voted down included one that would have run through the Sunset District[4] and another freeway that would have run through Glen Canyon[5].
In 1964, with increased traffic and congestion, City Planners and State Highway officials worked with the Board of Supervisors to come up with a revised freeway development plan. The second half of the Embarcadero Freeway was again considered. The Panhandle Freeway would have extended the Central Freeway, running along Oak and Fell with a tunnel under Golden Gate Park. Hundreds of homes and businesses would have been torn down. What became known as the San Francisco Freeway Revolt culminated on May 17, 1964 with a protest at the Polo Field[6] in Golden Gate Park[7] that attracted 200,000 protestors. Folk singer Malvina Reynolds performed her anti-freeway song called Cement Octopus. The City received 15,000 petition signatures and 20,000 letters and telegrams. The plans were voted down on October 13, 1964 in a close 6-5 vote. One last attempt to resurrect freeway plans was again voted down two years later, after-which all federal money went to BART[8] and MUNI[9].
Despite continued calls to tear down the Embarcadero Freeway, it was surprisingly saved in a 1986 ballot measure because of strong support from China Town[10] and the Broadway strip clubs. As it played out, it was the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake[11] that ultimately decided the freeway’s fate. The earthquake caused severe damage which closed the freeway as Caltrans looked into plans to retrofit. In another 6-5 vote, the Board of Supervisors approved having it torn down and it was demolished in February 1991. There are currently no plans for additional freeways within City limits.
[1] World War II: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4222 [2] Bay Bridge: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=3306 [3] Golden Gate Bridge: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4916 [4] Sunset District: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4584 [5] Glen Canyon: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=3624 [6] Polo Field: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4346 [7] Golden Gate Park: story coming April 4th [8] BART: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=3533 [9] MUNI: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4304 [10] China Town: story coming October 18th [11] Loma Prieta Earthquake: story coming October 17th
