The Town of Danville announced over the weekend that Diablo Road is once again open come Monday.
The announcement comes as staff and contractors worked the weekend to complete the paving stage of the project allowing the road to reopen. There will be final striping and other tasks but no additional full road closures are needed.
During the project, the Town of Danville shared multiple updates of the project, including how the culvert pipe is 12-feet in diameter and it takes six individual panels to make the ring. Each panel that makes up the culvert pipe weighs 715 pounds.
Culvert Replacement and Diablo Road Closure Begins March 23
Detour map available for vehicles and bicycles; Town advises planning ahead for alternate routes.
Beginning Thursday, March 23, Diablo Road will be closed to through traffic from Alameda Diablo to Avenida Nueva to replace a critical drainage culvert. The project is necessary to maintain safe travel on Diablo Road and integrity of the Town drainage system, as the existing culvert pipe is at the end of its 60-year lifespan and structurally compromised by winter storms.
In continuing efforts to make the Diablo Culvert Emergency Repair Project most efficient, the Town has scheduled removal of compromised eucalyptus trees over the same project period. As many in the community reported, more than 20 trees along Diablo Road near Alameda Diablo are prone to falling after recent storms. The Town is working with the private landowner to remove the trees, the timing of which will overlap with the culvert replacement project window and extend into late April, weather permitting. During this time, Diablo Road between Fairway Drive and Alameda Diablo will be set up for one-way traffic only.
The Town has developed a detour route map with the project area identified, as well as suggested alternate routes for eastbound and westbound travel to avoid the construction area. The detour routes are for both vehicular and bicycle traffic. Town staff advise the community to plan ahead for a longer commute via alternate routes during the project period. The map and all project updates are available at www.DanvilleTownTalks.org/DiabloCulvert.
Please note that the Diablo Community Services District – not affiliated with the Town – intends to close an intersection within their community at Avenida Nueva and Diablo Road to all traffic except for emergency vehicles and school buses. That closure is noted on the detour map and questions can be directed to: [email protected].
Town engineers inspected the culvert pipe in January while making storm-related repairs to the roadside slope. They found the pipe to be flattening, causing slope erosion and a dip on the surface of Diablo Road. The approximate 21-day project will include trenching across Diablo Road, removal of the outdated culvert, fabrication of the new culvert on-site, and installation of the replacement. The project is being planned with efficiency of time and resources, and full closure of Diablo Road will result in the shortest project duration and most efficient replacement of the critical drainage infrastructure.
Town staff have identified the potential project duration of March 23 to April 13, weather permitting, to make best use of nearby school break schedules. Diablo Road is expected to be closed for the duration of the project, from east of Alameda Diablo to Alameda Nueva. Residents can view and subscribe to project updates from the Town at www.DanvilleTownTalks.org/DiabloCulvert.
Danville Declares Local Emergency Due to Storms and Flooding
The Town of Danville has proclaimed a local emergency due to severe storms expected this week, following flooding and mudslides after the December 31 storm. — more info
