The Breakwater Access Trail (BAT, also known as the breakwater connector) and the East Jetty trail and park construction work will make improvements to help with seasonal flooding and access during High Tide and King Tide events, and provide for a new ADA kayak launch ramp at the parking end of the BAT. This work is mandated by BCDC and has been extensively reviewed and approved by BCDC, S.R. Department of Public Works, Bay Area Water Quality Control Board and the Army Corp of Engineers, among other entities.
The East Jetty work will provide raised walls and/or curbing around the park, with new ADA ramps, stairs and handrails in and out of the park over the new raised protection walls/curbs and fencing. In addition, the end of Jetty trail will be modified with the installation of new sheet piling to allow for an improved ADA trail to the picnic table and a new mitigation-vegetated area with native plants at the end of the jetty.
The Breakwater Access Trail (BAT), will be improved to construct a new ADA van parking spot (replacing the existing ADA stall). The work will construct a new ADA kayak launch ramp, and will make improvements between the bay and the seasonal wetland area by constructing a new elevated boardwalk, stairs and wheelchair ramps. This will allow for better continued access on the trail by providing access over the tide waters during seasonal flooding events which are necessary to aid and fill the seasonal wetlands during High Tide and King Tide events.
The new elevated 100’+ boardwalk will include new ADA ramps, and new stairs at each end, requiring the construction of new concrete footing and caissons, installation of wood beams, joists and 2” x 6” decking and wood banisters.
The new kayak launch ramp to be installed near the parking end of the BAT will require minor bay dredging and the installation of a new Armorflex pave stone with locking stainless steel cables, which will allow for better launching and retrieval of kayaks. The work will also provide for better access from the trail and the parking lot for kayak enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, this work requires full closure of these areas, until completed and accepted by all the different governing agencies, including the City of San Rafael and BCDC. This also means closure of the breakwater since the BAT is the only land bridge access to the breakwater, even though no work is being done on the breakwater itself.