The traditional overpass has a poor reputation and deservedly so as they have been designed with the sole aim of improving traffic flow with little attention paid to the needs of pedestrians who move beneath it. They can be dark, dangerous and forbidding places. With that in mind the overpass may seem like an unsuitable means of improving street life but this need not be the case.
The overpass design for 4th Avenue allows for continuous pedestrian movement on 9th Street. Pedestrians will be able to cross 9th Street at 4th Avenue on a pedestrian crossing covering the width of the overpass and a good distance beyond.
Certain simple measures such as adequate lighting can make it a friendlier space. It can also be an information point using bulletin boards to communicate local events and services.
The overpass need not be purely functional. It is a blank canvas that provides an outlet for artistic expression.
The overall design allows for only one lane of motorized vehicle traffic in each direction. There are no left and right turns which means that motorists travelling on 9th Street have no access to 4th Avenue and vise versa. This scenario will not necessarily be a cause of congestion just as it is true that increasing the amount of roads and their carrying capacity does not necessarily lead to a reduction in congestion.
Cyclists travelling on 4th Avenue will have segregated bicycle paths along the overpass. There will also be bicycle paths running alongside the overpass at ground level that will allow the user to access 9th Street in either direction and also allow them to continue on 4th Avenue. These measures give cyclists more options making bicycles an attractive proposition.
Cyclists travelling on 4th Avenue will join pedestrians in a shared-use section as they approach 9th Street and they must yield to pedestrians at these locations.
The speed limit for all traffic should be set at 15 miles per hour for the duration of 4th Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets and for 9th Street between Avenues 3 and 5. This will make the street safer for all street users and it will reflect the pedestrians and cyclists new found status as the most important people on the street.
The design includes a chicane on 9th Street. This feature helps calm traffic but is also necessary so that a suitable gradient could be achieved on the rail bridge side of 4th Avenue. The overpass has a gradient of 9% which is adequate for a speed limit of 15mph.

The existing layout of 4th Avenue only allows approximately 8 meters of its 31 meter width for pedestrians to use. Reducing the number of traffic lanes and introducing an overpass opens up the avenue to pedestrians and the endless possibilities of sustainable urban life such as farmer’s markets, community events and seating outside bars, cafes and restaurants. These all provide “eyes on the street”, helping creating a vibrant and safe living environment.