Construction crews will be installing new roadway markings on Oregon Expressway Friday night, prompting lane closures in both directions starting at 8 p.m.
The work is part of Santa Clara County's lagging effort to replace 50-year-old traffic signals and add left-turn lanes on streets that cross Oregon Expressway. The project, which is about six months behind schedule, is set to wrap up by the end of next week, according to an update county Supervisor Joe Simitian provided to the Palo Alto City Council at its meeting Monday.
Simitian said the lane-striping work will be conducted in the evening and night hours "in an effort to try to make sure we're not disrupting commute traffic any more than we have been." Though he called the project an "unmitigated disaster" because of the contractor's failure to perform, he highlighted its benefits, including improved traffic light synchronization and dedicated left turns at some intersections.
Work on Friday night will include the installation of roadway markings between West Bayshore Boulevard and Middlefield Road. One lane will be closed in each direction, according to the county. Work is expected to conclude at around 2 a.m.
Residents are encouraged to seek alternate east-west routes while work is in progress, including Embarcadero Road and San Antonio Road.
For more information about the project, go to www.sccgov.org/sites/rda/projects/Oregon_Expressway_Project.
Comments
Midtown
on Aug 22, 2014 at 3:54 pm
on Aug 22, 2014 at 3:54 pm
"Though he called the project an "unmitigated disaster" because of the contractor's failure to perform, he highlighted its benefits, including improved traffic light synchronization and dedicated left turns at some intersections."
[Portion of post removed due to disrespectful comment.]
Anyway, you cannot have it both ways, if the project is providing so many benefits it can not be an unmitigated disaster
Old Palo Alto
on Aug 22, 2014 at 4:27 pm
on Aug 22, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Joe has had a sterling political career, unlike any conservative you can think of, whose only aim is to promote corporate interests at the expense of 99 percent of the population.
Midtown
on Aug 22, 2014 at 4:30 pm
on Aug 22, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Boscoli-- huh????
This is an example of pure political posturing. Read in the weekly that some malcontents are upset with the Oregon expressway project. Release a statement attacking the project ( while speaking out of the other side of your mouth praising the benefits of the project). Sit back and wait for the accolades from boscoli et al.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 22, 2014 at 5:05 pm
on Aug 22, 2014 at 5:05 pm
It is good to know where to avoid this evening. Hopefully it will be up and running by Saturday morning.
On another note, it has taken longer than expected and this is always the case. What about the construction on Highway 101? Is that now classed as completed?
Unmitigated Disaster? I think we are used to those around here.
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Aug 22, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Registered user
on Aug 22, 2014 at 5:54 pm
boscoli -
Oh you mean, like Obama, who promoted the interest of insurance providers above everyone else?
Sorry. Your rhetoric is really tired in 2014.
Old Palo Alto
on Aug 22, 2014 at 7:15 pm
on Aug 22, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Like I said, right wingers are the greatest enemies of the American people.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 22, 2014 at 7:41 pm
on Aug 22, 2014 at 7:41 pm
> Joe has had a sterling political career
Sure .. he was in Sacramento when the Energy Deregulation turned California into zones of rolling blackouts, and he did nothing to make it better. He was in Sacramento when the State found itself in never-ending debt spirals, and he did nothing to make it better. Joe has also managed to be on the insane side of so many crazy acts of the legislature that CA has become the laughing stock of the world.
So--what exactly constitutes as "stirling political career" anyway? Do you have to do anything to achieve such glory, or do nothing that gets you arrested, convicted, and jailed?
Simitian has claimed that this project is an "unmitigated disaster" because it's near his home and he has become impacted by it. He has made some claims about why the project has been delayed--but doesn't seem to have provided any proof as to his claims. So--will anyone actually challenge this man to prove what he says, or are they going to genuflect to the local Democratic party boss, and believe everything that he says.
Anyone going to ask him directly why Siemens is having problems? Is there any chance that the County, or even the City of Palo Alto, has failed in some way to perform their jobs--which Siemens would necessarily depend upon to do theirs?
Simitian is a slick politician--that's for sure. But is he an honest man?