Making Room to
Merge on I-680 in Danville and San Ramon

Frustrated commuters can now experience congestion relief on the stretch of I-680 near San Ramon. In April 2007, the I-680 auxiliary lanes opened, extending the distance for traffic to enter and exit the freeway. By giving drivers more time and space to merge, traffic flow and safety are expected to improve. The project provides a continuous lane between the interchange ramps at Crow Canyon and Bollinger Canyon Roads in San Ramon and between Diablo and Sycamore Valley Roads in Danville. Ongoing communication and coordination were key to keeping this project moving. The Authority worked closely with Caltrans, the Town of Danville and the City of San Ramon. A follow-up landscaping project is expected to begin in late 2007.

Developing Innovative
Mobility Options
for I-80

The I-80 corridor in West Contra Costa and Alameda Counties has the dubious distinction of having the worst congestion in the Bay Area. In 2006, the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency, in cooperation with the Authority, was successful in securing $55.3 million in state infrastructure bond funds for the I-80 Corridor Mobility Project. Environmental clearance has begun on a 20-mile integrated freeway and arterial network on I-80. The project will employ a Traffic Operations System that includes closed circuit TV, changeable message signs, ramp metering and other devices to manage congestion along the corridor. A key feature of the project is the integrated information exchange system to share freeway congestion, ramp metering and local arterial information among Caltrans, the San Pablo Avenue SMART corridor, the 511 system and local agencies.

Widening
State Route 4

As the residents of Antioch and East County and commuters on State Route 4 can attest, traffic congestion cuts into valuable time spent with families and friends or at work. The State Route 4 East Widening Project aims to provide travelers with added traffic lanes and increased options such as carpool lanes and the proposed future addition of mass transit in the median. Significant funding is in place with a combination of funds from the Contra Costa half-cent transportation sales tax, the federal transportation reauthorization act (SAFETEA-LU), and the Statewide Infrastructure Bonds. The Authority is working collaboratively with the cities of Pittsburg and Antioch, the community, BART and utility companies to complete this project.

The goal is for State Route 4 East to have four lanes in each direction from Loveridge Road to the Hillcrest Avenue Interchange, with auxiliary lanes added between interchanges. Three lanes in each direction are planned between Hillcrest Avenue and State Route 160. Future addition of mass transit in the median is accommodated through the Hillcrest Interchange.

HOV Lanes from
Railroad Avenue to
Loveridge Road

Carpooling commuters are now using the continuous High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes that run from State Route 242 in Concord through Loveridge Road. August 2006 marked the completion of three travel lanes and one HOV lane from Railroad Avenue to Loveridge Road. Landscaping will be added to the corridor in 2007.

Two Additional Lanes
from Loveridge Road to Somersville Road

To further reduce traffic congestion on State Route 4, design is nearing completion for two additional through lanes and the continuation of the carpool lane to east of Loveridge Road at Century Boulevard. Construction of a replacement pump station is targeted for mid-2007 with the first stages of project construction to begin in 2008.

Design Initiated for
Somersville to State Route 160

With construction targeted for late 2010, design began in 2006 to widen the final narrow segment of State Route 4 from Somersville to State Route 160. A connection will also be provided to the newly constructed State Route 4 Bypass.