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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

June 7, 2006

First Glimpse Of Caldecott Tunnel Project

Subheading

By Carolyn Tyler

June 7 - KGO - If you drive the Caldecott Tunnel, concrete death trap that it is, you know it can be a massive pain. Caltrans wants to fix things by building another tunnel. Today the agency holds the first in a series of public meetings about the project and reveals a first glimpse at what it might look like.

At least 200,000 cars head through the Caldecott Tunnel every day. It can be tough going even in the non-commute direction, where only one of three bores is available.

Nancy Engberg, motorist: "You often wish it had been opened up on your side, not the other, and it's only getting worse, not better."

The tunnel was built during the depression years. Workers dug through the hillside by hand. The first two bores opened in 1937, the third in 1964. Caltrans believes its time for another one. The size of the project is up in the air.

Jeff Weiss, Caltrans: "They are exploring whether to build a three-lane tunnel. Right now, all of the bores are two lanes& or to stick with a two-lane tunnel."

Drawings of the two alternatives will be on display for the public to examine tonight at the Orinda Community Center. The project could be completed in 2013. Whatever the specific alignment of lanes, many motorists just want another bore.

Contra Costa County voters have already agreed to tax themselves, and there's some state money. Caltrans also hopes the governor's recent visit to the tunnel and his proposed November bond measure will help. The new bore could cost between $285 million and $375 million.

Jeff Weiss: "We have about half the money we need for the project and between now and then we'll have to get the rest of the money."

But not everyone thinks adding another pathway through the East Bay hills is the answer to the traffic congestion.

David Reid, Greenbelt Alliance: "Greenbelt Alliance doesn't oppose transportation improvements, but we do feel it's important to have growth control along with those improvements, otherwise we wind up right back where we started with bumper to bumper traffic."

In regards to funding, it's not just the residents in this county, we are all chipping in. Back in 2004, Bay Area voters approved a one-dollar hike in the bridge tolls to help pay for the Caldecott and other transportation projects.

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