Caltrans tweaks plans for 580 onramp closure

Plans have been in the works for several years for a construction project that would close an Interstate 580 onramp near the Point San Pablo Peninsula in Richmond. Caltrans originally planned to close the eastbound I-580 onramp for two years while it repaired three bridge decks that hang over Scofield Avenue, which drivers must take to get to the onramp.

But there was one huge caveat: drivers would be redirected over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the only route available due to the peninsula’s isolation. The detour is more than 11 miles long.

The plan, which came to light in fall 2011, sparked concern among Richmond residents. It especially struck a chord with Richmond City Councilmember Tom Butt, who uses the onramp several times a month to access the East Brother Light Station, where he is a board member. He also expressed concerns about environmental impacts associated with the project.

Since then, Caltrans officials have met with legislators and the City Council on several occasions. They’ve since changed their plans to alleviate the project’s impact on drivers. To learn more about those changes, listen to this audio piece by North Gate Radio reporter Stacey Kennelly.

Read Richmond Confidential’s original report on the project here.

Find out more

Caltrans will speak at the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council meeting (Richmond Community Center, 139 Washington Ave.) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1.

Caltrans is also planning to hold an open house for Point San Pablo residents in the future.

For more information, visit the project website.

midterm_kennelly_edited.mp3