Boulder Creek Roadwork Update from Caltrans
An overnight grinding and paving project in both north and southbound lanes and part of shoulders along Highway 9 in downtown Boulder Creek between Forest Street and Bear Creek Road will take place for four nights starting Sunday night, June 28.
Roadwork hours will be from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning (starting Sunday night) with up to 10-minute delays are anticipated and will consist of reversing one-way traffic control with flagging.
On the northbound side of the roadway, Middletown Ave. will be closed and traffic detoured south to Forest St. to reconnect with Hwy. 9.
On the southbound side of the roadway, Lorenzo St. and southbound Hwy. 236 will be closed and traffic detoured to Forest St. to reconnect with Highway 9.
There is also a possibility of closing West Park Ave. and traffic will be detoured to Ridge Dr. then south on Hwy. 236 to follow the detour.
Roadwork is expected to be completed by Thursday, July 2 at 6 a.m.
There will be “no parking” restrictions on both shoulders between Forest St. and Bear Creek Rd. from 8 pm to 6 am for the duration of the project.
This roadwork is being performed by Caltrans Santa Cruz Maintenance crews as a safety precaution to provide motorists and cyclists a safer route to travel.
For more information on this project and for traffic updates on other Caltrans projects in Santa Cruz County, residents can call the District 5 toll freenumber at 1-831-423-0396 or can visit their website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/release.htm#scr
Driving tips for a safer July 4 holiday drive
AAA projects approximately 3.8 million Californians will drive to reach their holiday destinations. That’s a 0.4% increase when compared to travel figures from 2014. Nationally, AAA forecasts more than 41 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, representing a 0.7% increase compared to last year.
Here are some driving tips that may promote safe driving during Independence Day:
- Stay alert: Avoid driving while tired.
- Belt it: Always wear seat belts and make sure children are buckled up in proper safety seats.
- Focus on driving. Phone calls and texts can wait.
- Don’t stray: Stay on main roads and highways.
- Take a break: When stopping to rest, always lock vehicles doors, even if you are gone for a few minutes. Keep valuables in the trunk.
- Call a pro: Do not stop to help a disabled vehicle. It can be dangerous to be out on the road in traffic. Instead, call AAA for emergency road service.
More road closure when PG&E replaces pipeline in July
PG&E reports that it will continue its safety work along the Central Coast with the replacement of a section of natural gas pipeline at Graham Hill Road and Meyer Drive in Santa Cruz County. This work will take place through July 2015.
“This is another example of our commitment to the safety of our customers and their families. We don’t just work here, we also live in these communities and we are dedicated to putting safety first in everything we do. This project serves to enhance our ability to provide our customers with safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy,” said Rob Morse, PG&E’s senior manager for the Central Coast Division.
PG&E will replace an approximate 150-foot long segment of eight-inch pipe. Following industry-standard safety practices, crews will be trimming trees in late June to prepare for the replacement project, which is scheduled to begin in mid July. Work will generally occur Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; no night or weekend work is planned at this time. Motorists may expect traffic controls and brief delays.
Following standard safety practices, crews may vent natural gas from pipelines as the project progresses. As PG&E vents the pipe, the smell of natural gas and the sound of venting may be noticeable to nearby homes and businesses, depending on wind direction. The natural gas will quickly dissipate into the atmosphere and will not be harmful; however, PG&E encourages anyone who has concerns about natural gas odors in or around their home or business to call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
