San Rafael, CA – Traffic flow improvements are on their way for a bottleneck intersection in the Tamalpais Junction area of unincorporated Marin County, and the solution should take two days or less to install.
Tam Junction is one of the busiest intersections in Southern Marin.
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Marin County Department of Public Works is partnering with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to make changes at the intersection of Almonte Boulevard and State Route 1 (Shoreline Highway) for vehicles travelling north on the state highway approaching the intersection. Chrisp Company of Fremont, CA, has been contracted to do the work for $36,129 over March 9-10.
“We hope and expect that by taking this action we’ll help relieve another of the challenges we all experience at this busy crossroads of local and recreational traffic,” said Marin County Supervisor Kate Sears, who represents the Tam Junction area.
Northbound drivers on Shoreline often are stuck behind gas station customers waiting to turn left into the Arco station located at the intersection. Drivers in the left turn lane are unable to pass the waiting cars and proceed on a green light through the intersection toward West Marin on Shoreline. Even drivers hoping to turn right onto Almonte at the intersection are impacted by the backup. Despite that there is a second lane devoted to those turning right toward Mill Valley, drivers stuck in the left-lane traffic tend to dart out into the right lane in an attempt to catch the green light, creating unsafe conditions. It’s especially problematic during the summer months and on weekends when visitor traffic is added to the normal resident and business traffic.
“This change will really help with traffic flow and reduce delays,” said Principal Civil Engineer Robert Goralka. “We’re thankful that the gas station managers were willing to coordinate with us and supported the change. It’ll be a much more efficient intersection.”
Caltrans and County engineers studied and approved a left-turn restriction into the gas station with the use of a modular raised curb median barrier. The installation will direct gas station customers to take a left onto Shoreline (toward West Marin) and then turn onto a driveway entrance about 65 feet west of the intersection.
Work is planned to begin with a lane closure at 9 p.m. March 9 and should be completed later that night or sometime March 10. Nearby businesses and residents will be inconvenienced by traffic delays that could last up to 10 minutes. The traffic closure will be removed by 6 a.m. March 10.
Changeable message signs will be in operation in advance of the work to alert drivers of the scheduled construction.