With large crowds anticipated at Lake Merritt for upcoming holidays – on June 19th for Juneteenth, and on July 3rd and 4th for the Fourth of July holiday weekend -- the City of Oakland will implement temporary safety measures where many gather to enjoy festivities. The locations will also include Grizzly Peak, where people gather for a great view of Bay Area fireworks on the Fourth of July.
At Lake Merritt on summer weekends and holidays, traffic and parking congestion along the narrow Lakeshore Avenue remains a safety priority. Unsafe conditions can include when cars are double- and triple-parked from MacArthur Boulevard to E. 18th Avenue, creating significant traffic jams and, of greatest concern, impeding access for emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances. This is often the result of too many cars in too little space and the temporary street closures are established to help deliver any needed emergency services to people at or around the Lake as swiftly as possible.
Juneteenth: June 19 Road Closures at Lake Merritt
On Sunday, June 19 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., the following road restrictions will be in effect:
Lakeshore Avenue
- Closed between MacArthur Boulevard and East 18th Street.
- Lakeshore Ave. Exit from 580 West will be closed. The Grand Ave. Exit will remain open.
- No parking will be permitted
- The following streets will be closed at Lakeshore Ave: Beacon St., Boden Way, Brooklyn Ave., Wayne Ave., and Hanover Ave.
El Embarcadero—Closed
Grand Avenue
- Grand Avenue will be open in both directions except for a single eastbound lane closure.
- Bellevue will be restricted to residents only from Perkins to Grand Ave. These restrictions will improve traffic safety and allow for greater access for park visitors, bicyclists, and pedestrians around this narrow section of Lake Merritt. They will also allow for emergency vehicle access when needed.
Fourth of July Weekend: July 3-4 Road Closures at Lake Merritt and Grizzly Peak
On Sunday, July 3, from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., and Monday, July 4, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., the following road restrictions will be in effect:
Lakeshore Avenue
- Closed between MacArthur Boulevard and East 18th Street.
- Lakeshore Ave. Exit from 580 West will be closed. The Grand Ave. Exit will remain open.
- No parking will be permitted
- The following streets will be closed at Lakeshore Ave: Beacon St., Boden Way, Brooklyn Ave., Wayne Ave., and Hanover Ave.
El Embarcadero—Closed
Grand Avenue
- Closed between Macarthur Blvd. and Bellevue Ave. (east)
- No Parking will be permitted.
- Bellevue Ave. Loop and its cross streets will be closed except to residents and Fairyland ticketholders. These closures and restrictions will improve traffic safety and allow for greater access for park visitors, bicyclists, and pedestrians around this narrow section of Lake Merritt. They will also allow for emergency vehicle access when needed.
Grizzly Peak: Road Closures in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
The Oakland Fire and Police departments continue to work in partnership with neighboring jurisdictions on actions to mitigate fire risk in the Very High Fire Severity Zone and throughout the city during the Fourth of July holiday.
In response to significant regional concerns about fire safety and emergency vehicle access, Grizzly Peak Blvd. between Skyline Blvd. and Centennial Dr. will be closed to all thru automobile traffic along the following roads from 5 a.m. July 3rd through 5 a.m. July 5th. Additionally, the following intersections will have electronic signage and personnel on hand to prevent thru traffic from entering:
- Grizzly Peak / Centennial Dr
- Grizzly Peak/ S Park Dr
- Grizzly Peak/ Lomas Cantada
- Grizzly Peak/ Claremont
- Grizzly Peak/ Skyline
- The Fish Ranch Road exit on Highway 24 will be closed in both directions
The City of Oakland is coordinating with the City of Berkeley, East Bay Regional Parks, UC Berkeley, Moraga/Orinda Fire, Alameda County, Cal Fire, and Caltrans regarding the closure.
This corridor was closed over 4th of July for the last three years with great success. There were no confirmed fires, and significantly reduced crowds and illegal parking at the lookout points, thus allowing first responders to efficiently travel along the ridgeline to respond to 911 calls.
