History of the Median
The median on Bridgeway was created for Emergency Vehicles, but is now a turn lane.
“…Police Effort Made To Speed Up Motorists” - Sausalito News, February 25, 1961
“Cite Trucks for Parking Violations, Police Told” - Sausalito News, June 6, 1962
“Bridgeway’s Future Concerns City Council” - Marin News, October 14, 1964
“Council Acts to Keep 2 Lanes on Bridgeway” - Marin News, December 16, 1964
“Bridgeway Gets O.K.” - Sausalito News, June 23, 1965
“City engineer ... to design two 12-foot traffic lanes, one eight foot parking lane, and emergency vehicle lane and a walkway...” - Sausalito News, June 23, 1965
The newly created raised median made specifically as an Emergency Vehicle Lane as reported in Sausalito News, June 23, 1965
Police enforcement helped keep the lane clear.
“How can one be cited for parking on a median when the car is in gear, running, and standing for only 5 seconds while a passenger unloads?” 1974 Marin Scope
With so many standing vehicles the Emergency Vehicle Lane made sense.
Today, the median is a center turn lane no longer needed for Emergency Vehicles according to former Chief Rohrbacher.
The raised median was leveled in 1986.
The Marin Scope reported “A new overlay of asphalt on Bridgeway south of Princess Street has made the regular lanes even with the formerly raised median strip.” It is unclear if the lane was painted as a center turn lane at the time. “… lane markers and buttons will keep the median distinct from the regular lanes. … The raised median strip is barely discernible …”
Read more about how to know it is a turn lane.
