Local Leaders Highlight Significance of 160-Highway 4 Connector Project as Construction Begins

On Tuesday May 20, a celebration was held as construction began on the $50 million State Route 160/Highway 4 Connector Ramp Project.

The project technically kicked off a few weeks back, but this was the official celebration as elected officials spoke about the importance this project is for Contra Costa County.

The new ramps—one connecting westbound Highway 4 to northbound State Route 160, and one connecting southbound State Route 160 to eastbound Highway 4—will alleviate congestion through Oakley and improve access to eastern Contra Costa County.

The interchange connectors is also part of a $1.3 billion undertaking to widen the Highway 4 corridor between Pittsburg and Antioch in eastern Contra Costa County, and to extend BART to Antioch (eBART).

When completed in 2016, the Direct Connector Ramps project will add an additional 12-foot auxiliary lane to State Route 160 in both directions between the SR 160/Hwy. 4 Interchange and the East 18th/Main Street Interchange. The new structure will cross the median of Highway 4 at a height that can accommodate a future eBART extension.

Randy Iwasaki, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Transit Authority

“What they said is they can’t get onto the Bypass and that I have to get on at Hillcrest or go through the City of Oakley. So I think one of the benefits is you no longer have to go through the City of Oakley or make a U-turn at Hillcrest. It will save you a little bit of time, some energy and fuel mileage. Ultimately it will make this place operate a little more smoothly,” said Iwasaki.

Iwasaki also noted that so far on local State Route 4, there have been more than 25-local businesses help build this project and we are very proud of that.

Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Oakley)

“Today’s groundbreaking marks a pivotal moment for transportation infrastructure modernization in East Contra Costa County. These projects will significantly improve transit accessibility in the region, will help alleviate traffic congestion and will enhance traffic safety for more than 250,000 East Contra Costa County residents,” said Frazier.

Supervisor Mary Piepho

“Perseverance of a significant team which begins at the top and comes down to the bottom to local communities. The team has created mobility and construction still continues,’ explained Piepho. “I live in Discovery Bay and this interchange with this bypass does create mobility it does create a greater quality of life and it will help get families home safely after a busy day of work so they can spend time with their families.”

Supervisor Federal Glover

“18-19 years later, we are seeing transportation built at its best in East Contra Costa County,” said Glover. “I’ve been working on transportation issues and I’ve seen some great things that have taken place over that period of time that we can be proud of. Once a cul-de-sac now we have a thoroughfare getting us to our jobs, to our higher education, to healthcare, to making sure that people returning can return at a reasonable time to their families.

Federal Glover explained that six-years ago they told us this was not a route of regional significance. Today we are a route of regional significance. We are making a difference.

“Today is an opportunity for us to do the type of economic development we need to do for our region, the opportunity to have goods movements, we are in the front door, now we need to start working out the back door as we start to look bringing people into a jobs center that we are going to work on a jobs center and have people come in from the east to work instead of our folks leaving to go to the west.”

Amy Worth

This project is a perfect example of how government should work. A problem is identified, it’s a high priority and the resources are put together to be able to solve the problem,” said Worth. “This project is going to make a huge difference to all the people in this region commuting to and from work.”

Bijon Sartipi, CALTRANS District 4 Director

“Completing Highway 4-160 Connector will help the commuters in East Contra Costa County because Highway 4 has presented many challengers in Transportation, said Sartipi. “We are making great advances in addressing those challenges. The work here will construct two new connector ramps and ease congestion in Oakley and improve access from north and south. These are the two missing ramps. This project will complete those ramps and make a huge change.”

Sartipi noted that once construction is complete on Highway 4, commuters will have 8-lanes from Bailey Road to the 160-Connector along with EBART to allow transit into the heart of the Bay Area.

Kevin Romick, CCTA Board Chair and Oakley City Councilman

This was once rated one of the top 10 worst commutes in the country and this is now being taken care of,” said Romick. “We are grateful for the voters and MTC funding this project and are proud to be delivering our commitment of completing projects on time and under budget while also reducing traffic.”

According to the 4eastcounty.org website, here is some information on the 160-Connector project

PROJECT ALLOCATED BUDGET

The project is funded entirely by $50 million in Bridge Toll Funds.

SCHEDULE

Construction began in March 2014 and is expected to be complete in late 2015 or early 2016, weather depending.

PROJECT UPDATES

Tree removal, utility relocation, and clearing and grubbing are complete. The start of major construction is expected in May 2014.

 

Photos from Tuesdays Groundbreaking Ceremony

Information Via the MTC

Construction Begins on $50M State Route 160/Highway 4 Direct Connector Ramps Project

May 20, 2014
Work on a much-needed connection between the Antioch Bridge and Highway 4 began this morning with a brief groundbreaking ceremony. On hand were staff from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and its partners, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and state, regional and local officials.

The new ramps—one connecting westbound Highway 4 to northbound State Route 160, and one connecting southbound State Route 160 to eastbound Highway 4—will alleviate congestion through Oakley and improve access to eastern Contra Costa County.

The addition of the interchange connectors is part of a massive $1.3 billion undertaking to widen the Highway 4 corridor between Pittsburg and Antioch in eastern Contra Costa County, and to extend BART to Antioch (eBART).  “The breaking of ground on this latest segment of the Highway 4 improvement projects is furthering our efforts to improve regional mobility, revitalize the local economy, and  improve the quality of life for 250,000 residents in East County,” said CCTA Executive Director Randell Iwasaki. “These projects are possible in large part due to the passage of a local half-cent sales tax by Contra Costa voters in 2004.”

CCTA is responsible for maintaining and improving the county’s transportation system by planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs.

When completed in 2016, the Direct Connector Ramps project will add an additional 12-foot auxiliary lane to State Route 160 in both directions between the SR 160/Hwy. 4 Interchange and the East 18th/Main Street Interchange. The new structure will cross the median of Highway 4 at a height that can accommodate a future eBART extension.

The project will feature soundwall extensions and new retaining walls in addition to the 2.62 new lane miles under construction, and is funded entirely by $50 million in Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Bridge Toll Funds. “MTC/BATA  is proud to support these important improvements, which will enhance safety and mobility for the residents and motorists of eastern Contra Costa County,” said MTC Executive Director Steve Heminger.