The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 4 announced the start of construction on a new southbound Express Lane on I-680 that will stretch 11 miles from south of Marina Vista Avenue in Martinez to Rudgear Road in Walnut Creek.
Anticipated to open to traffic in 2021, the new lane will connect with MTC’s existing Express Lane between Walnut Creek and San Ramon, providing 24 miles of continuous express lane travel in Contra Costa County from Martinez to the Alameda County line. When completed, this will be the longest express lane in the Bay Area.
CCTA Board Chair Federal Glover said, “The voters of Contra Costa County have shown that they value better transportation options and congestion relief on the I-680 corridor and throughout Contra Costa County and the Bay Area. The new southbound express lane helps to fulfill a vision of improved mobility along this important backbone corridor in Central Contra Costa County.”
“October is Rideshare Month in California,” said MTC Commissioner and Orinda City Councilmember Amy Rein Worth. “I cannot think of a better way of celebrating Share Your Ride Month in the Bay Area than by breaking ground on an express lane along this critical corridor. Because carpools and vanpools equipped with FasTrak Flex tags can travel toll-free in express lanes throughout the Bay Area, we look forward to the new I-680 southbound express lane encouraging more carpooling and vanpooling through Contra Costa County.”
This project is part of MTC’s plan to install a 550-mile network of express lanes in the Bay Area by 2035.
