Kirker Pass northbound slated for truck lane
Work should get underway this summer on a $14 million, mile-long truck safety lane on Kirker Pass Road, one of Contra Costa County’s most traveled and most dangerous commute routes.
Concord and Clayton residents who frequently drive up the steep county road know all too well about the dangerous speeds and horrific auto and truck accidents along the one-mile northbound stretch from the Concord Pavilion to Hess Avenue, where the county will build the 12-foot wide truck safety lane along with an eight-foot wide paved shoulder.
“I think it is an exciting idea,” Kari Philipp of Concord said. “It will free up two lanes for autos and provide a dedicated lane for trucks.”
The Contra Costa County Public Works Department plans to open contractor bids on Jan. 22, and the Board of Supervisors may approve the winning bid in February. The project will include a retaining wall and installation of drains, with completion expected by summer 2020.
County engineers, county supervisors, and Clayton and Concord residents hope that the project will reduce auto and truck accidents on the road used by 20,000 motorists daily. By the year 2040, daily traffic on Kirker Pass Road is expected to double to 40,000 vehicles a day.
About 8.5 percent of the daily traffic consists of trucks and when one mixes trucks and cars on a road with an 11 percent grade, it frequently results in auto-truck accidents.
“The steep grades make it difficult for trucks to match the speed of other vehicles on the road, which causes congestion and creates a safety hazard,” said Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, whose District 4 covers the northbound lane of Kirker Pass Road.
“The Kirker Pass Road Safety Lane Project will create a dedicated lane, which will reduce potential collisions between slower moving trucks and higher speed vehicles. This is an important investment in the traveling public and to ensuring a safe commute for our residents,” the supervisor told the Pioneer.
Clayton City Councilwoman Julie Pierce said the project is the result of more than 20 years of Central and East County planning. “It has taken a long tome to get the funding and engineering in place, but we are so happy to see it finally coming to fruition,” she said. “I have friends who were gravely injured in an accident on this road and have been pushing for this safety improvement for a very long time.”
Some Concord and Clayton residents, including Philipp, have cited concerns about the lack of street lighting on Kirker Pass. While most county road projects don’t require street lighting, senior civil engineer Nancy Wein said Public Works recently received a $1.28 million state Highway Safety Improvement Program grant to install street lights at the north and south Hess Avenue intersections of Kirker Pass Road. The grant will also include the installation of reflectors along the median on Kirker Pass Road, she said.
Clayton resident Christine Broome also supports additional lighting. “It’s hard to see the lanes without proper lighting,” she said. Broome, who transports high school students daily from Clayton to East County, says Kirker Pass can be a “scary” traveling experience.
Scott Curry of Concord said he is “all for” the plan. “There is a need for more infrastructure projects around here, especially when there is discussion about building additional housing and parks at the Concord Naval Weapons Station.”
