A prominent stretch of Junipero Serra Boulevard may see major traffic-backups this month because of an ongoing effort by PG&E to replace a natural-gas transmission line in Palo Alto.
The project targets Line #109, which travels through Palo Alto, Stanford and Menlo Park. Work on the replacement project began in late September and is expected to last about a month, according to the city's Utilities Department.
While the work will not involve road closures, the project will lead to a lane being closed, prompting "alternating" flow through one lane, according to the city.
"For Palo Altans this may result in significant back-up of traffic on the Foothill Expressway approaching Page Mill Road and heavier traffic on Page Mill Road heading toward El Camino as some commuters will choose not to continue across to Junipero Serra," the Utilities Department's announcement stated. "This will be true especially during the late afternoon/early evening commute hours."
The city is advising drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to use alternate routes when possible.
Additional information about the project is available on the department's website, www.cityofpaloalto.org/utilities.
Comments
Barron Park
on Oct 30, 2012 at 9:30 am
on Oct 30, 2012 at 9:30 am
Oh good god no! Traffic delays!? For Palo Altans!?!?! NOOOOOO!!!!
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 30, 2012 at 10:47 am
on Oct 30, 2012 at 10:47 am
Could snarl Palo Alto traffic? You mean it isn't snarled already? Have you been to south Palo Alto lately?
Charleston Meadows
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:28 am
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:28 am
Expected to last "about a month"? Maybe. But the PG&E lane closures and huge traffic backups along Charleston Road were supposed to last two months. They lasted four. No explanations for the five weeks the project stood idle, either.
Palo Verde
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:29 am
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:29 am
"Could" snarl ?!? Where have you been for the last six months?
Greenmeadow
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:48 am
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:48 am
Oh no! Anything but SNARL our traffic! Where are the bike promoters when we need them the most?
Adobe-Meadow
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:51 am
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:51 am
"could snarl" is probably directly from the PG&E press release and the newspaper editor didn't bother to fact check.
Downtown North
on Oct 30, 2012 at 1:10 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 1:10 pm
I'm the City Utilities Communications Manager and I want to make a few clarifications, given the comments made so far:
1) The clock on the "one month" I was talking about in my media alert starts ticking now. The total time from its September start to its late November/early December finish for this particular pipeline replacement is going to be about 2 1/2 months. The work over on Charleston Road lasted almost 3 months.
2) The "news" is not that there will be construction-related traffic congestion in Palo Alto---we have indeed had quite a lot of that lately the last several months!---but that there will be PG&E project-related back-ups on Junipero Serra/Foothill Expressway during the 4pm to 7pm commute hours. This has not been the case previously.
Although the gas transmission pipeline replacements are PG&E projects, the City Utilities created a web page to keep Palo Altans informed about what's going on and the impacts. This same page lists information about City Utilities infrastructure projects as well. You can visit anytime for updates (www.cityofpaloalto.org/utilityprojects)
another community
on Oct 30, 2012 at 2:15 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 2:15 pm
This gas pipeline replacement project is a GOOD thing -- remember San Bruno? So this bit of disaster preparedness is inconvenient? Precious Palo Alto: stop the precious whining, be patient and get with the program.
Old Palo Alto
on Oct 30, 2012 at 2:17 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Of course, it happens when the weather is changing and it will soon be too rainy to bikeride! Damn PGandE and their bad pipes!
Registered user
Mountain View
on Oct 30, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Registered user
on Oct 30, 2012 at 3:48 pm
" Expected to last "about a month"? Maybe. But the PG&E lane closures and huge traffic backups along Charleston Road were supposed to last two months. They lasted four. No explanations for the five weeks the project stood idle, either. "
" I'm the City Utilities Communications Manager and I want to make a few clarifications, given the comments made so far:
1) The clock on the "one month" I was talking about in my media alert starts ticking now. The total time from its September start to its late November/early December finish for this particular pipeline replacement is going to be about 2 1/2 months. The work over on Charleston Road lasted almost 3 months.
2) The "news" is not that there will be construction-related traffic congestion in Palo Alto---we have indeed had quite a lot of that lately the last several months!---but that there will be PG&E project-related back-ups on Junipero Serra/Foothill Expressway during the 4pm to 7pm commute hours. This has not been the case previously.
Although the gas transmission pipeline replacements are PG&E projects, the City Utilities created a web page to keep Palo Altans informed about what's going on and the impacts. This same page lists information about City Utilities infrastructure projects as well. You can visit anytime for updates
(www.cityofpaloalto.org/utilityprojects)"
Someone is LYING. Who is it?
Maybe Perennial Gouger and Extortion should state and defend their project timetable. Hold THEIR feet to the ( literal ) fire.
another community
on Oct 30, 2012 at 4:34 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Complain complain complain -- the selfish mantra of precious Palo Altans.
This project may have saved your lives, given the disaster in San Bruno -- but you find it inconvenient.
This is bizarre...also pretty disgusting.
East Palo Alto
on Oct 30, 2012 at 5:42 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I don't live in PA & I recognize how lousy the traffic is. Yes, I'm complaining about it, which doesn't mean I don't recognize the necessity of the work.
Many of us resent PG&E for the myriad problems that THEY are responsible for, from not planning adequately during El Niño years to the disaster in San Bruno. Be grateful to avoid another San Bruno??? PG&E needs to show their gratitude for not being drawn & quartered post-San Bruno. I've personally been endangered twice in recent years due to their neglect of power lines on my street. Thankfully their frontline workers are mostly competent because their overall management has come under fire in the past 20years for problem after problem. As much as Palo Altans love to complain, this time there's something to complain about, and this goes beyond Palo Alto. This effects everyone trying to efficiently get around that area, which is already full of construction (Stanford, Page Mill Rd). Maybe, just maybe, if PG&E had been doing their jobs right all along, so many pipes wouldn't need to be replaced in such a short period of time.
another community
on Oct 30, 2012 at 6:16 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 6:16 pm
All those things may be true -- but this project is to fix a problem. I don't see why so much anger and resentment gets expressed over one of the few things PG&E is trying to do to mitigate a huge threat.
This particular project -- a hazard mitigation project -- inconveniences some drivers temporarily. So what?
Get over it.
East Palo Alto
on Oct 30, 2012 at 6:58 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 6:58 pm
It backs up traffic during major commute hours, which causes long delays. Add to this the approaching inclement weather & of course, throw in the very real potential for screw ups, like the recent gas leak just off of campus. Throw in the endless cyclists & you have a mess. There will be accidents, which are more than an "inconvenience."
We're the ones who pay for the work, in ways beyond our wallet - & w/the ongoing awareness of PG&E debacles & the lack of decent public transpo options you get resentment. I would resent this all less if PG&E didn't screw up so often, w/the public being the literal victims. If I knew less, I'd probably be less resentful & think that PG&E was merely being responsible.
Midtown
on Oct 30, 2012 at 10:17 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I agree--get over it and get it done!
I'd certainly rather keep our lives, than not.
It's slowing traffic etc., but lives come first.
Palo Verde
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:57 pm
on Oct 30, 2012 at 11:57 pm
@resident: Headlines are written by the publication. They're local (Cambridge Ave), so I expected them to know better.
another community
on Oct 31, 2012 at 6:29 am
on Oct 31, 2012 at 6:29 am
This project will cuase major traffic problems. FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE FOR THE NEXT MONTH!!!!