California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Agnos Hopeful for Freeway Reopening

With a lot of cooperation and money from the federal government, San Francisco could have a replacement for the earthquake-damaged Embarcadero Freeway open by 1995, said Mayor Art Agnos. The city will be seeking full federal funding for the project. Agnos announced at a City Hall news conference that Caltrans now estimates it would cost $69.5 million to repair the closed freeway. He called the new estimate, about $15 million higher than one made four months ago, “good news that will make a difference in what we do with the Embarcadero.” The city wants to tear down the waterfront roadway and replace it with a surface road. The state has allocated $11 million for demolition, which could start as early as next month.