A decades-long traffic headache in south Santa Rosa is finally easing as the new Hearn Avenue overpass fully opens to the public.
According to the Press Democrat, the $43-million-dollar project replaced a cramped, 70-year-old bridge with a modern, four-lane overpass. Transportation officials say the upgrades—which include wider off-ramps and reconfigured intersections at Corby Avenue—are specifically designed to end the dangerous backups often seen on southbound Highway 101.
It isn’t just for drivers, though. The new bridge features protected bike lanes and improved pedestrian paths connecting to the nearby SMART trail. While minor finishing touches like landscaping and decorative railings continue, the bridge is now fully operational for the holiday season.
First planned in the 1990s, the project was made possible through a mix of state funds and Sonoma County’s Measure M sales tax.
