CCTA Host Hillcrest Interchange Groundbreaking, Construction Update

As work on Highway 4 continues, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority held a “groundbreaking” for the interchange at Hillcrest Avenue—the fifth and final segment of the project to widen Highway 4 from four to eight lanes.

The above picture comes courtesy of Congressman Jerry McNerney during yesterdays groundbreaking. Also pictured is Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor, Antioch City Councilman Mary Rocha, Antioch Mayor Wade Harper, State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, and Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick who partook in the groundbreaking ceremony which included CCTA executive Director Randy Iwasaki.  Assemblyman Jim Frazier, non pictured, was also present for the morning portion of the event.

As work on Highway 4 continues, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority held a “groundbreaking” for the interchange at Hillcrest Avenue—the fifth and final segment of the project to widen Highway 4 from four to eight lanes.

Paul Burgarino of the Contra Costa Times put out a solid article providing an overview of the project and the most informative of the newscasts I’ve seen. It’s a nice read and I encourage you to check it out. According to Burgarino, he states the following:

Seven transit projects are under way in the region: the five to widen Highway 4 to eight lanes, the Brentwood project to widen Highway 4 to four lanes and add on- and offramps at Sand Creek and eBART. Each segment is coordinated so contractors don’t overlap.

Work on the Hillcrest stretch, which starts next month, includes expanding the number of lanes from just east of the thoroughfare to the Highway 160 interchange, along with a on- and offramps at Hillcrest. It will also consist of several components of BART’s Antioch station, including a pedestrian overcrossing, station platform and station house and a tunnel underneath the westbound lanes so trains can get into their maintenance station.

All told, the region’s seven projects will total $1.3 billion worth of transit improvements for the region. The Highway 4 widening is scheduled to be completed by fall 2015, eBART two years later.

Where Things stand:

Here is what work is being done on each of the five segments for the Highway 4 widening project from Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to Highway 160, the widening at Sand Creek Road and eBART.

• Loveridge to Somersville: Contractors are working on a bridge at Loveridge that goes over the freeway, along with on- and offramps. Work also continues on the bridge over Century Boulevard. Estimated completion date: summer 2014, though some parts may open sooner
• Somersville to Contra Loma: Work continues on a new highway bridge over Somersville and retaining walls. Estimated completion date: summer 2013, but cannot open until Loveridge lanes are opened.
• Contra Loma to Lone Tree: Half of the G Street bridge has been replaced, with construction on the other half of the bridge starting next month. Lots of creek work was recently completed. Estimated completion date: Late summer 2015
• Lone Tree to Hillcrest: Work is being done on retaining walls and preparation work is under way for widening the road and a new bridge over Cavallo Road. Estimated completion date: Late summer 2015
• Hillcrest to Highway 160 — Work starts in March. Estimated completion date: November-December 2015
• Sand Creek — Work continues on overpasses at Sand Creek, San Jose Avenue and Lone Tree Way. Estimated completion date: spring 2014
• eBART — Contractors are leveling the parking lot of the Antioch-Hillcrest BART station and completing a transfer station in Pittsburg. Estimated completion date: 2017

Also, here is the ABC7 segment from last night. Rather than focus on the groundbreaking and meat and potatoes as Burgarino did, the story appeared slanted towards how long folks in East County had been waiting for BART.

Completion of the line from Pittsburg-Bay Point 10 miles east to Hillcrest in Antioch is still four years away, but it’s a beginning worth celebrating. East Contra Costa residents have been helping pay for BART, with nothing to show for it since it was first envisioned in 1958. That is truly a lifetime of waiting. Antioch Mayor Wade Harper was born in 1964.

A BART video shows how at the new platform, passengers will transfer between BART trains and the smaller, eBART trains. No fare gates, no barriers, just a 28-foot walk. The lighter eBART costs 60 percent less than regular BART trains.

eBART construction will really take off after 2015, when work on the final expansion projects along Highway 4 between Loveridge and Hillcrest will be completed. In addition to doubling the highway from two lanes to four in each direction, the major Loverdige Road interchange is also being expanded and upgraded.

Sources:

Congressman Jerry McNerney
Contra Costa Transit Authority
Contra Costa Times
AbC7News