The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the State Route 4 Bypass Authority held a ceremony March 14 to celebrate the opening of Segment 1 and the Laurel Road Extension of the SR4 Bypass Project.

Segment 1 of the project connects existing SR4 east of Hillcrest with Segment 2 of the project, just south of Lone Tree Way (Segment 2 — Lone Tree Way to Balfour Road has been open to traffic since Spring 2002).

Segment 1 also includes interchanges at Laurel Road and Lone Tree Way. The Laurel Road Extension project provides a direct connection from existing Laurel Road in Oakley to the SR4 Bypass (Segment 1) in Antioch.

The purpose of the Bypass project is to provide access to the growing areas of southeast Antioch and western Brentwood, to ease traffic congestion in Antioch, Brentwood, and Oakley, and to provide improved local circulation and mobility for residents in those areas.

Segment 3 is currently under construction and is expected to be complete in August 2008.

Segment 3 consists of a two-lane expressway from Balfour Road to Vasco Road. In addition, Marsh Creek Road will be improved to Caltrans standards for a conventional highway and will connect back to existing State Route.

The State Route 4 Bypass Authority was created in 1989 through a Joint Powers Agency Agreement. The partners in the project are Contra Costa County, the cities of Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley and Caltrans.

Attending the ceremony was Caltrans Director Will Kempton, representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, Congressman Jerry McNerney, State Senator Tom Torlakson and State Assemblyman Guy Houston, Mayor of Antioch/Bypass Authority Board Member Donald Freitas, Mayor of Brentwood and Bypass Authority Chair Bob Taylor, Contra Costa County Supervisor and Bypass Authority Board Member Mary Piepho, Caltrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi, Mayor of Oakley and Bypass Authority Board Member Brad Nix and Contra Costa Council Executive Director Linda Best.

The total cost of the 12.4-mi. SR4 Bypass Project is approximately $215.5 million.

Today's top stories

Blalock Crews Build TDOT's $67M Newport Bypass

New Bridges Part of Iowa's $114M Madison Avenue Project

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

SAKAI Achieves Record Sales, Production

Takeuchi Recognizes Top Dealers at 2024 Dealer Summit

Equip Expo's Summer Giveaway Offers a Chance for Lifetime Trade Show Registration, Gift Card, Hotel Stay

Tennessee's Pugmill Systems LLC Expands Its Product Offerings to Include Concrete Plants

ASCENDUM Machinery Opens New Savannah, Ga., Facility