Petaluma’s long-debated Caulfield Lane crosstown connector — a two-lane drawbridge that would link Caulfield Lane to a roundabout on Petaluma Boulevard South — took another step forward this month, though the city still needs to find roughly $70 million before shovels can hit the ground.
City officials hope to break ground in 2028 on the $97 million project, which would add protected lanes for pedestrians and cyclists and is pitched as relief for Petaluma’s perpetually clogged Washington Street and D Street river crossings. Mayor Kevin McDonnell told residents at a recent council meeting that the city has lined up only a fraction of the total cost so far. “We’ll still have to raise $60 to $70 million somewhere,” McDonnell said, according to the Press Democrat.
Civil engineering firm Mark Thomas unveiled the latest design in late February, and the Petaluma Argus-Courier reports the bridge would incorporate a movable span to allow boats to pass on the Petaluma River. Supporters argue the connector would shave minutes off emergency response times for crews trying to reach the east side during commute hours or when a downtown bridge is raised.
Not every neighbor is sold. Two written comments from Riverfront residents submitted ahead of the meeting raised concerns about traffic, noise, and property values. “Many of us are highly concerned about the impact that the bridge, with its corresponding traffic, noise and pollution, would have on our property values,” one resident wrote.
The Caulfield route is the city’s fallback after the long-discussed Rainier crosstown connector stalled. With funding still uncertain, Petaluma residents can expect continued congestion — and continued debate — through at least the end of the decade.
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