Octavia Boulevard -- an urbane triumph

SF Gate's John King discusses the success of the new Octavia Boulevard in this week's Urban Design column.

"What existed before was the Central Freeway, a double-deck freeway that reached across Market Street and delivered commuters to and from Oak and Fell streets. The elevated artery tied the center of the city to its western districts -- and cut an ungainly gash across Market and through the center of the Hayes Valley neighborhood."

"Now, drivers heading north or west descend from the freeway at Market Street and are greeted by the most attractive entrance into the city after the Golden Gate Bridge: a boulevard with poplar trees in the middle and Chinese elms on each side of the four-lane thoroughfare between faux historic lampposts."

"Most freeway exits drop you into a mess. With this one, you feel you've arrived."