A Press Democrat Blog

Road Warrior

Trying to make sense out of getting around

Porter Creek delays, and other county road reports

Tuesday, at 5:42 by

If you plan to cross the Mayacamas this week, plan your route carefully, suggests reader Brian Maloney. A bridge replacement project on Porter Creek road is creating quite a snarl. Another project destined to irritate commuters is ramping up on Arnold Drive and Aqua Caliente, but is still in the early stages. Question: Haven’t seen anything about this yet in the news, but they’re replacing the bridge at Porter Creek and Franz Valley Road. Any news on detours or timing… Read More »

Updated: Construction hot spots in Sonoma County

Monday, at 11:22 by

Updated to include details about the sewer replacement work at Montgomery Drive and Farmers Lane in Santa Rosa.  Life slows down in Sonoma County after the weekend excitement of the bicycle race and Rose Parade in Santa Rosa, and American Graffiti cruise in Petaluma. Similarly, road projects continue with little change, a lull before the June 3 start of another Highway 101 improvement project north of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa police identify their targeted intersection of the week, and Rob… Read More »

This week’s road closures and cone zones

Monday, at 6:34 by

Caltrans projects along Highway 101 lead the news this week, with delays and lane closures on Airport Boulevard in Santa Rosa and from Petaluma south to the Marin County line. The following information comes from CalTrans spokesmen Adam Priest and Phil Frisbie Jr., and Sonoma County Road Department Operations Manager Rob Silva.  Caltrans – Santa Rosa Airport Blvd. at Fulton Rd. — Signal construction project begins Monday, April 15, with completion in early May. Expect up to 30-minute delays. Caltrans… Read More »

Petaluma highway work begins and other cone zones

Sunday, at 6:18 by

Here’s the latest information about road construction projects and lane closures throughout Sonoma County during the week of April 8-12, with Highway 101 closures in Petaluma, Santa Rosa’s “extra attention” intersection and a roundup of CalTrans projects throughout the North Coast. Petaluma The biggest news this week is the start of a new phase of Highway 101 construction on the Sonoma-Marin Narrows project, which brings evening lane closures between Washington Street and Petaluma Boulevard South as the highway is widened… 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 changes at the Road Warrior

Sunday, at 7:00 by

We’re changing drivers at the Road Warrior blog. After nearly three years of writing the column — and 29 years at The Press Democrat — I’m retiring on Monday and Linda Castrone, editor of The Press Democrat’s Towns section, will take over Tuesday. She’ll do an excellent job. The column has grown tremendously since it debuted April 22, 2010, with more than 1,000 columns, a total of 3 million page views and more than 7,400 published comments from readers. I… Read More »

Last storm-closed roads open

Tuesday, at 11:25 by

The last two roads in Sonoma County closed by the aftermath of last weekend’s storms reopened Tuesday, the county roads department says. Wohler Road had been flooded at River Road, and Trenton Road was flooded between Laguna and River roads. During the height of the storms, at least 25 roads maintained by the county were closed, says Rob Silva, roads department operations manager of the county Department of Transportation and Public Works. Most of those were because trees fell and… Read More »

Mailbag: Is Porter Creek Road sinking? Sonoma Avenue lanes

Friday, at 5:49 by

Here’s a question from a reader: I drive daily from Graton to St. Helena via Mark West Springs Road/Porter Creek Road and am writing in hopes you will bring additional attention to a serious road hazard on Porter Creek Road.  I contacted County Roads of Sonoma County and reported this to them. Just west of Camp Newman, heading west toward Santa Rosa where the curve is in the road at the camp and just past the top of the rise,… Read More »

Traffic delays on Lakeville Highway again

Thursday, at 10:22 by

Crews today are to resume cutting and trimming eucalyptus trees along Lakeville Highway, likely causing some traffic delays  between Petaluma and Highway 37. One-way traffic control will be in effect from about Old Lakeville Road 2 to Old Lakeville Road 3, reported Rob Silva, roads division manager of the Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works. The work is scheduled to be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Tuesday, weather permitting, with no work on the weekend. Crews started… Read More »