Graceful Bimla. That’s the feeling that lingers here at the Bimla Rhinehart Vista Point. This spot honors Bimla Gill Rhinehart. She was the California Transportation Commission Executive Director. She also served on the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee.
Bimla passed away in 2013. The committee voted to recognize her with this naming. It is a fitting tribute.
The Bimla Rhinehart Vista Point sits atop Pier E-2. This was part of the original Bay Bridge eastern span. For 77 years, it supported the cantilever section. The vista point offers new views of the East Span.
Many elements here use salvaged steel. The trusses came from the original East Span. Notice the handrails. They line the eastern and southern faces. See the communal table. Parts of it also come from the old bridge. The counter overlook uses repurposed steel. Even the bike racks near the entrance have a history.
Views from the Bimla Rhinehart Vista Point are stunning. Look out over San Francisco Bay. See the Port of Oakland. Admire the self-anchored suspension portions.
Next to us stands the former Torpedo Storehouse. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the last bit of Camp Yerba Buena. This was once a U.S. Army base.
Take a look at the hillside. You can spot the former Pier W-2. This is where the original East Span landed on Yerba Buena Island.
Bimla Rhinehart Vista Point is open to the public. You can visit from an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset. Remember there are steep grades to get here.
Bimla earned degrees in finance and accounting. She then went to graduate school. She worked at Caltrans for over 20 years. Colleagues remember her as a leader. She brought people together. Her spirit and kindness are fondly remembered.
The Bimla Rhinehart Vista Point includes a 30-foot communal table. There is amphitheater seating. Bike racks are provided. Flexible performance spaces accommodate gatherings.
Steve Heminger suggested naming the boardwalk after her. He said it would be a wonderful way to remember Bimla. He wanted to honor her achievements and life. This vista point ensures her legacy endures.