The Other Side of the Creek: The Bridge That Waited for the Birds

Editor’s note: “The Other Side of the Creek” is a series designed to capture the life and spirit just beyond San Francisquito Creek, the shared landmark separating Menlo Park from the communities to the south.

At Newell Road, San Francisquito Creek separates Palo Alto from East Palo Alto. A concrete bridge built in 1911 linked its two banks for more than a century. During replacement work in June 2026, an active black phoebe nest delayed removal of the old bridge. Before demolition could proceed, a qualified biologist had to confirm that the young birds had fledged.

The bridge predated East Palo Alto’s incorporation as a city. The community’s official history explains that it was part of unincorporated San Mateo County for most of its history and became a city in 1983. By then, the Newell Road bridge had been standing for more than seventy years.

Age was only part of the replacement story. In its May 21, 2026 announcement, Palo Alto described a crossing without dedicated pedestrian or bicycle facilities. The new design includes two vehicle lanes, shoulders, sidewalks and crosswalks. For people walking across the creek, the planned sidewalks will provide a designated route alongside the vehicle lanes.

The replacement also forms part of a larger flood protection effort. The San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority describes a program between Middlefield Road and Highway 101 that includes bridge replacements and proposed channel and floodwall improvements. Downstream improvements must precede replacement of the upstream Pope-Chaucer bridge, the authority explains, so that allowing more water through that crossing does not transfer flood risk to communities farther along the creek.

At Newell Road, however, the immediate constraint in early June was an active nest. Palo Alto’s June 4 project update reported black phoebe hatchlings that required protective buffers and monitoring. Bridge removal would wait until a qualified biologist confirmed that the young had fledged. Crews continued other work at the site, so the pause concerned demolition rather than the entire construction project.

The black phoebe’s habits help explain its presence around creek crossings. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes a bird closely associated with water and dependent on mud for nest building. Its nests are mud shells lined with plant fibers, and nesting sites include bridges and culverts. The City’s account does not specify the precise location of the Newell Road nest.

In its June 25 update, Palo Alto reported that a qualified biologist had confirmed the young had fledged. Demolition could begin as soon as June 26, while the project team considered ways to recover time lost during the delay.

Demolition followed. Palo Alto’s report covering May and June, prepared July 2, 2026, lists removal of the old bridge as completed and includes photographs of the work.

One piece of the crossing was saved. A photograph caption on page 2 of the same report credits the Palo Alto Fire Department with removing and preserving the bridge’s 1911 sign before demolition. The report does not say where the sign will eventually be displayed, but it documents an effort to retain a visible reminder of the old crossing.

The sign marks the bridge’s beginning. The construction updates leave a detail from its final weeks: before the old crossing could be removed, the young birds had to fledge.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and editorial purposes only and reflects independent research and interpretation. Although care has been taken to ensure accuracy, some details may be incomplete or subject to change. Nothing here should be considered professional advice or an official statement by any institution mentioned.