Overview
In 2005, NHCA joined a coalition of neighborhood groups that worked to ensure construction of the Caldecott Tunnel’s fourth bore was done with the least negative impact and with appropriate mitigations and improvements that are socially, economically, and environmentally beneficial for the entire community. Caltrans opened the new bore to traffic in November 2013 and expects to complete the landscape phase (delayed by the drought) during winter 2015-16.
The FBC expects to be active until 2021, when the last Caldecott-related enhancement projects are complete. These projects were made possible by an $8 million settlement agreement between Caltrans and the City of Oakland and a settlement agreement between Caltrans and FBC. The funds will be used to improve pedestrian and bicycle travel along the Highway 24 and Highway 13 corridors in Oakland and Berkeley, to enhance Oakland’s FROG Park playground, and to add some signal improvements to major intersections on Ashby Ave.
Oakland’s eligible enhancement projects, developed with extensive public input, are in the North Hills, Rockridge and Temescal neighborhoods. How many of the projects actually get built will depend on the final construction costs of the first several projects on the list; those closer to the tunnel were given priority.
Progress Update as of February 2021
Oakland expects to break ground on the first set of projects near Broadway, Brookside and Keith in December 2015, weather-permitting. In Fall 2016, Oakland was expected to construct sidewalks from Parkwoods to The Bentley School and bike lanes however the sidewalk portion of that project lacks funding at this point. Work is on-going at the Hiller and Highway 13 junction which will improve safer for bikes and pedestrians. There continues to be advocacy from the Parkwoods community and the Board of NHCA to press for the sidewalk project.
Project drawings and further updates are available on the Fourth Bore Coalition’s website.
Berkeley expects to break ground on most of the projects made possible by FBC’s settlement in Spring 2016. The complete project list, updates and links to drawings are on the Berkeley Transportation Division’s website. Funds must be spent by January 2018.