Bay Bridge New Eastern Span Photo: Pete Rosos
The Bay Bridge’s new eastern span. Photo: Pete Rosos

This week was the week to celebrate the long-awaited, much anticipated opening of the eastern span of the Bay Bridge. Berkeleyside contributing photographer Pete Rosos spent many hours on the old and new spans before the opening, and presented readers with a slew of amazing photos.

Here are some of the first autos to cross the bridge, with some night shots as well. There was also considerable excitement — and discussion — about the new pedestrian and bicycle path on the span. Nancy Rubin, another contributing photographer, shot these delightful photos. 

The new bike/pedestrian path on the Bay Bridge's eastern span. Photo: Nancy Rubin
The new bike/pedestrian path on the Bay Bridge’s eastern span. Photo: Nancy Rubin

Berkeley officials finally got a chance to visit the burned Tuolumne Family Camp to assess the damage.

Other popular stories included one on how city officials are considering relaxing the requirements to open emergency homeless shelters in commercial and high-density residential districts, a cautionary story about the high level of lead in chickens raised in urban backyards, student performance on state tests, and the city’s push to reduce greenhouse gases.

Berkeleyside’s Uncharted: The Berkeley Festival of Ideas, added two interesting speakers. 

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UC Berkeley’s new Chancellor, Nicholas Dirks, will be speaking at Uncharted: The Berkeley Festival of Ideas. So will Kate Kendell, Markos Moulitsas, Mollie Katzen, and many more. Uncharted is two days of provocative thinking, inspiring speakers, workshops, and a big party — all in downtown Berkeley in October. Read all about it — be part of it. Register on the Uncharted website.

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November...