The Central Avenue Safety Improvements Project [1] is underway. Construction detours and lane re-configurations are likely to have a direct impact on traffic, parking, and pedestrian routes getting to and from the West Alameda Business District beginning today, April 28th.
[2]According to an email sent to the West Alameda Business District community from Assistant Engineer Michaela Wood, “The Construction Team is phasing the project in a way that minimizes public inconvenience as much as possible, while still keeping the project on a timely schedule.”
Detour information is as follows:
- Between Fifth Street and Page Street, the southernmost parking lane will be closed for construction.
- Between Page Street and Eighth Street, parking on both sides of the street will be closed. The southernmost travel lane will also be closed. Construction detours will shift the lanes so travel will still be permitted in both directions.
- The existing one-way eastbound-only traffic pattern between Third Street and Fifth Street in front of Encinal and Paden Schools will remain in place.
“Employees and clientele of the businesses on and around the south end of Webster St should expect delays on Central Avenue and opt for alternative methods of transportation when possible (e.g., public transit, rideshare, walking, cycling, etc.), as parking may be more limited than usual,” Wood said in her email. “When driving, cycling, or walking, obey all construction signs and barricades, and the instructions of construction crew members.”
The email also expressed the City’s appreciation and support of the West Alameda businesses on this project. “Once completed, this project is expected to make it safer for all users to travel to and from Webster St along Central Ave,” wrote Wood.
The project is funded by Measure BB, Alameda County’s transportation sales tax, and the following federal grants: US EPA San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund, Active Transportation Program, Congestion Management & Air Quality/Surface Transportation Program, and One Bay Area Grant – OBAG3.