Caltrans and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) announced March 9 that work has begun on the next phase of the State Route 4 Widening Project in Contra Costa County. The 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, Proposition 1B, contributed $26.7 million of the project’s $63 million cost.

“This is a critical project to relieve congestion in this growing area,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “The people of Contra Costa County can clearly see that their taxpayer dollars are being put to work to benefit this region.”

After the highway is widened, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) will add a new mass transit service to eastern Contra Costa County in the widened highway’s median. The SR-4 widening and BART project represent a combined investment of more than $1 billion to address one of the most congested corridors in the Bay Area.

In total there are five planned construction projects to widen SR-4, its interchanges, and local roadways from west of Loveridge Road to the State Route 160 interchange. The total cost to widen SR-4 is estimated at $554 million, including $72.2 million from Proposition 1B. The BART project, which will start service shortly after completion of the highway widening, is funded from Contra Costa’s 2004 transportation sales tax Measure J, Proposition 1B, and other local and regional sources.

“Caltrans is committed to improving mobility throughout California,” stated Caltrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi. “This commitment includes partnering with our local congestion management and transit agencies to provide new transportation options for east Contra Costa County commuters.”

“This project serves as a strong validation for Contra Costa County voters, who passed Measure J to pay for transportation improvements along the SR- 4 corridor, as well as other key transportation projects in the county,” stated Don Tatzin, CCTA Chair. “This local revenue source has made all the difference in our ability to move this project along on schedule and put Contra Costa residents back to work.”

The prime contractor for the project is CC Myers Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

To date, the state has allocated more than $11 billion in Proposition 1B funds for transportation purposes statewide.

For more information, visit http://widensr4.org.

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