San Rafael, CA – Last winter’s severe storms caused significant damage across Marin County, including approximately $4.15 million in road slides alone. Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) maximized the forgiving summer weather by repairing eight slides, but projects on four more slides are scheduled for the coming months.
The slide damage along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard at Baywood Canyon near Fairfax is among the areas slated to be repaired. Team Ghilotti was contracted to handle construction at all four sites, carrying a total cost of $1.37 million. The work is expected to begin in early January.
The project that will affect traffic the most will be on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, a major artery from Marin’s highly populated eastern corridor to West Marin. The road is expected to experience impacts to traffic flow because of the scheduled work at Baywood Canyon near Fairfax.
The construction zone near Baywood Canyon will require the closure of one lane of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard for heavy machinery access and crew safety. It is anticipated that the work will start in early January and take approximately six weeks to complete. The lane closure will be in effect for the duration of the project during work hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traffic flow will be maintained using alternating one-way access through the work zone, controlled by flaggers. Travelers should expect delays during peak commuting hours and plan accordingly. However, both lanes will remain open outside of the designated working hours.
The other three slides to be addressed this winter are Red Rock Road and Los Ranchitos Road, both in San Rafael, and Marshall Petaluma Road in West Marin.
The projects at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Los Ranchitos, costing $341,965 and $157,205 respectively, are expected to be reimbursed with Federal Highway Administration funds. The $648,975 project at Red Rock Road is expected to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The damage to Marshall Petaluma Road is not eligible for federal funding and the $229,131 project will be covered by County’s Road and Bridge Rehabilitation fund.
“These slide repairs required extensive planning as well as dedication in pursuing the necessary federal funding,” said Ernest Klock, DPW Assistant Director. “We are eager to complete the projects and keep drivers safely moving about their daily lives.”
Another slide on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, located at milepost 18.76 in Samuel P. Taylor State Park, will not be repaired as part of this series. Due to environmental regulations for fish activity in Lagunitas Creek, which bisects the park, the necessary regulatory agency permits are not issued during the winter months. Permits will be sought in late April 2018 and repairs are expected to begin as early as May 2018.
In the meantime, the downhill slide within the park has been winterized to endure the rainy season, but requires the closure of one lane to maximize safety. A temporary traffic signal was installed on November 30 and will remain in place until early May. Traffic flow will be continually monitored and the signal’s timing will be adjusted to minimize congestion. It is recommended that travelers seek alternative routes during commute hours as traffic delays are anticipated.
Learn more about progress on County roads projects by following DPW on Facebook and Twitter.