A Press Democrat Blog

Road Warrior

Trying to make sense out of getting around

This week’s cone zones

Monday, at 6:50 by

Petaluma continues to dominate the Sonoma County road construction activity, with SMART and Caltrans work in addition to ongoing city projects. In Santa Rosa, work begins to replace antiquated sewer and water lines around Montgomery Village, a project that will continue through November. A complete list of Caltrans projects throughout the North Coast follows. Petaluma SMART crews will start replacing the railroad crossing at D Street at 6 a.m. Monday, April 29. The work is expected to be finished by… Read More »

This week’s cone zones

Monday, at 9:18 by

Here’s the latest information about road construction projects and lane closures throughout Sonoma County during the week of April 1-5, courtesy of Rob Silva, roads division manager for Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works. It’s followed by a roundup of CalTrans projects throughout the North Coast: SONOMA COUNTY The Cotati crew will resume work today on the Stony Point Road culvert, replacing the second section of 80 feet. The Bridge crew will continue work this week replacing timber… Read More »

Big drop in tickets, crashes in Sonoma County, CHP stats show

Monday, at 4:00 by

The number of tickets written by CHP officers in Sonoma County dropped  by more than 20 percent and traffic crashes fell by nearly 15 percent last year compared to 2011, according to the latest statistics. The 27,259 tickets written by the local CHP, which covers Sonoma County except for part of the Sonoma Valley, was down from 2011′s 35, 385, 2010′s 37,003 and 2009′s 37,378. The local spokesman, CHP Officer Jon Sloat, said he and other CHP officials haven’t been… Read More »

More paving work on Highways 128, 53

Thursday, at 9:57 by

Caltrans on Friday plans to start repaving a four-mile stretch of Highway 128 in the Boonville area, and it expects some traffic delays. The $1.5 million construction project will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and is expected to last until the end of August. The work will be done from Con Creek to Robinson Creek, and traffic delays of up to 10 minutes are possible. Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. said the work is “normal preventive… Read More »

Final part of Mendocino/Lake paving project gets under way

Monday, at 4:47 by

The Mendocino County leg of a Caltrans repaving project is under way. Work began Monday on a nearly 10.5-mile stretch of Highway 175  from Highway 101 in Hopland to just past the Lake County line, and it’ll cause traffic delays of up to 15 minutes for drivers. The work will be 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and is expected to last into the summer, Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. said. The $17.6 million project began last summer in Lake… Read More »

10 mattresses and more picked up along North Coast highways

Wednesday, at 4:45 by

The North Coast’s highways are a bit cleaner these days, especially Highway 53 in Lake County. The highway is only about 7.5 miles long, from Lower Lake to Clearlake Oaks. But Caltrans considers it the dirtiest highway in Lake and Mendocino counties. So last Thursday, which was designated Caltrans’ statewide Annual Litter Day, it probably came as no surprise to the maintenance crews who went out to pick up litter and other garbage along 53 to discover 10 mattresses along… Read More »

Highway 20 roundabout under construction

Monday, at 4:13 by

  Caltrans has started building a roundabout on Highway 20 at Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road in an attempt to improve safety at the Lake County intersection. A Caltrans statement said the collision rate at the intersection near Nice is more than five times the statewide average for similar intersections. “The roundabout will reduce the number and severity of collisions,” the statement said. “It will also lower vehicle emissions by lessening idle times compared to a traffic signal.” The project is estimated… Read More »

Crashes up, fatalities, tickets down in Sonoma County

Monday, at 9:53 by

Traffic crashes rose last year, but fatalities dropped as did tickets and DUI arrests by the Sonoma County CHP, according to the latest statistics. A total of 2,485 crashes were investigated by the local CHP, which covers Sonoma County except for part of the Sonoma Valley. That’s up from 2,405 in 2010 and 2,324 in 2009. Sixteen people died in last year’s crashes — “that’s the lowest number in a long time,” said CHP Officer Jon Sloat, the spokesman for… Read More »

Traffic lights or roundabout for Hwy. 20/29 intersection?

Thursday, at 10:20 by

Caltrans today will hold an open house in Upper Lake to present information about two alternatives to improve safety at the intersection of  Highways 20 and 29: Traffic lights or a roundabout. “The project is needed because the collision rate at the intersection is 3.7 times greater than the statewide average for similar intersections,” Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. said in a statement. At today’s open house, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Upper Lake Middle Schools gym, the public… Read More »

Mendocino, Lake road work

Friday, at 12:02 by

Caltrans announced it’s planning road work, weather permitting, that likely will cause some traffic delays in Lake and Mendocino counties: LAKE COUNTY –Highway 20, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, routine maintenance near Sulfur Bank Drive. One-way traffic control and possible 10-minute traffic delays. –Highway 20, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, routine maintenance near Paradise Cove. One-way traffic control and possible 10-minute traffic delays. –Highway 20, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, pavement repairs from Highway 53 to North… Read More »