San Rafael, CA – A seamless flow of traffic, both vehicular and human-powered, is becoming closer to reality in a busy part of the Marin County Civic Center campus.
The roundabout intersection at Civic Center Drive and Peter Behr/Memorial drives is under construction for the next few months.
The County of Marin has awarded a $3.6 million construction contract for its Civic Center Drive Improvement Project, which will transform the way people move through the northern part of the Civic Center campus in San Rafael. Workers have dismantled the old intersection at Civic Center Drive and Peter Behr/Memorial drives and are building a single-lane roundabout to enhance flow and safety in the area.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors accepted the report of award to Ghilotti Bros. Inc. of San Rafael during its August 9 regular meeting. The $3,622,876.40 total costs includes accessible pedestrian and bicycle facilities that provide seamless connectivity between the Civic Center campus, the new SMART passenger rail station at McInnis Parkway, and the anticipated permanent farmers market site to be located on a vacant adjacent County-owned property commonly known as the Christmas Tree lot. The Marin County Department of Public Works is overseeing the project.
Traffic detours are functioning well near Marin Center, the Veterans Memorial Auditorium and Civic Center Lagoon Park. Patrick Zuroske, the County’s Capital Division Manager, said he urges travelers to be alert and cautious in the construction area because of the traffic flow alterations and the presence of workers, trucks and other heavy equipment.
There will be continued vehicle access and parking for events at the Marin Center and Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium. The Thursday Farmers Market, which normally takes place in the Marin Center parking lot, has moved to the Northgate mall parking lot for the next few months because of the construction project. The Sunday Farmers Market will continue to be conducted at the Civic Center at its usual parking lot location throughout construction.
Plans and specifications for the Civic Center Drive Improvement Project were approved by the Supervisors in June 2015. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
On DPW’s website, residents can find a video that summarizes the improvement project, an animated simulation of how the roundabout will work, an overhead map of the area, an overview about the effectiveness of roundabouts from the federal government, and many other documents.