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Work on new BART station to close ramps temporarily, shift 580 traffic

Thursday morning first time I-580 drivers will encounter new lane configuration

On June 13, construction crews will start their work in the middle of I-580 to build the highly anticipated BART station and transit village in West Dublin/Pleasanton that will come complete with 1,200 much-needed parking spots, a world-class hotel, housing, retail and office space.

However, to get the job done, crews will first have to shift the lanes on westbound I-580 to the left and make them slightly narrower. Drivers will first see these narrower and shifted lanes beginning Thursday morning. BART is urging motorists to pay extra attention when passing through the area of I-580 between the I-680 and the Foothill Road/San Ramon Road exits where crews are building the station.

RAMPS CLOSED SO CREWS CAN RESTRIPE LANES
BART crews will close the ramps connecting northbound and southbound I-680 to westbound I-580 three nights this week to restripe the lanes on westbound highway 580 between 680 and San Ramon/Foothill roads.

Detour signs will direct motorists around the ramp closure. The ramp will reopen in time for the morning commute and remain open throughout the day.

I-680 to I-580 ramp closure schedule

  • 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 13 to 4 a.m. Thursday, June 14
  • 11 p.m. Thursday, June 14 to 4 a.m. Friday, June 15
  • Midnight Friday, June 15 to 5 a.m. Saturday, June 16

As a result of restriping, the westbound highway 580 lanes will shift slightly to the left and will be one foot more narrow.

At least two lanes along this stretch of 580 will be open at all times during the overnight work and all lanes will be open during the day. (See this story on BARTtv News)

PURPOSE OF LANE RECONFIGURATION
The ultimate goal of this lane reconfiguration is to widen the inner shoulder of I-580 so construction crews will have more room to build the new station in the middle of the freeway.

The fist step in accomplishing this goal is to shift the lanes to the left, which starts tonight. This shift to the left will allow crews to strengthen the outer shoulder to handle automobile traffic.

Then in the coming weeks, crews will shift the lanes back to the right to make more room on the inner shoulder for construction crews to build the new station.

GROUND BREAKING ON NEW "SMART GROWTH" STATION LAST FALL
BART and its project partners broke ground on the historic new station in September 2006.

This yet-to-be-named station will be the first in the BART system to be built with "smart growth" already incorporated into the design. The smart growth around the new station will include 1,200 parking spaces, 210 housing units, office space and a hotel. The station will be located in the median of I-580, between the Castro Valley and Dublin/Pleasanton stations where there is currently a 10-mile gap.

BART expects weekday ridership of about 6,000 passengers the year the station opens and 8,500 riders by 2013. (See a story on the West Dublin/Pleasanton groundbreaking on BARTtv News) BART hopes to open the station in 2009.

BART currently has 43 stations. This new station in West Dublin/Pleasanton will be BART's 44th station.