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Work on new BART station to close I-580 ramps temporarily

Work similar to last week, but in eastbound direction

Just as they did last week on westbound I-580, tonight crews will start work on eastbound 580, as construction continues on the highly anticipated BART station and transit village in West Dublin/Pleasanton. When completed, the development will include 1,200 much-needed parking spots, a world-class hotel, housing, retail and office space.

To get the job done, however, crews must shift the lanes on eastbound I-580 to the left and make them slightly narrower. Drivers will first see these narrower and shifted lanes beginning Thursday morning. BART is urging motorists to pay extra attention when passing through the area of eastbound 580 between Foothill Road/San Ramon Road and I-680.

RAMPS TO AND FROM EASBOUND 580 CLOSED FOR LANE RESTRIPING
BART crews will close the ramps connecting Foothill Road/San Ramon Road to eastbound I-580 this week to restripe the lanes on eastbound highway 580 between San Ramon and Foothill roads and I-680. Ramps connecting eastbound 580 to north and southbound 680 will also be closed.

Foothill/San Ramon to I-580 ramp closure schedule:

  • 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 20 to 5 a.m. Thursday, June 21
  • Midnight Friday, June 22 to 8 a.m. Saturday, June 23

I-580 Eastbound to I-680 Northbound/Southbound ramp closure schedule:

  • 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 20 to 4 a.m. Thursday, June 21
  • 1 a.m. Saturday, June 23 to 6 a.m. Saturday, June 23.

Detour signs will direct motorists around the ramp closures. The ramps will reopen in time for the morning commute and remain open throughout the day.

As a result of restriping, lanes on eastbound 580 will shift slightly to the left and will be one foot more narrow. At least two lanes along this stretch of 580 will be open at all times during the overnight work and all lanes will be open during the day.

WORK WILL ALSO CLOSE RAMPS CONNECTING 680 TO WESTBOUND 580
The ultimate goal of this lane reconfiguration is to widen the inner shoulders of I-580 so construction crews will have more room to build the new station in the middle of the freeway.

The first step is to shift the lanes to the left. This shift to the left will allow crews to strengthen the outer shoulder to handle automobile traffic.

Work to strengthen the outer shoulder of westbound 580 this week will require the closure of the ramps connecting I-680 northbound and southbound to westbound I-580.

I-680 to 1-580 ramp closure schedule:

  • 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 20 to 4 a.m. Thursday, June 21.
  • Midnight Thursday, June 21 to 5 a.m. Friday, June 22.
  • 1 a.m. Saturday, June 23 to 6 a.m. Saturday, June 23.

In the coming weeks, crews will shift the lanes back to the right, making more room on the inner shoulder for construction crews to build the new station. BART recommends motorists avoid east and westbound 580 between San Ramon/Foothill and 680 during the late night/early morning hours, if possible, due to construction.

NEW "SMART GROWTH" STATION SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN 2009
BART and its project partners broke ground on the historic new station last September.

This yet-to-be-named station will be the first in the BART system to be built with "smart growth" already incorporated into the design. The smart growth around the new station development will include 1,200 parking spaces, 210 housing units, office space and a hotel. The station will be located in the median of I-580, between the Castro Valley and Dublin/Pleasanton stations where there is currently a 10-mile gap.

BART expects weekday ridership of about 6,000 passengers the year the station opens and 8,500 riders by 2013. (See a story on the West Dublin/Pleasanton groundbreaking on BARTtv News at www.bart.gov/barttvnews) BART hopes to open the station in 2009.

BART currently has 43 stations. This new station in West Dublin/Pleasanton will be BART's 44th station.