On Tuesday, Aug 8, the long awaited Sand Creek Road extension project broke ground in the City of Brentwood.
The project, upon completion, it will connect Sand Creek Road with Deer Valley Road in the City of Antioch allowing access to Kaiser Hospital–cutting travel time for ambulances by an estimated 10-minutes. It will also connect Sand Creek Road and Heidorn Ranch Road allowing access to both Costco and Home Depot from Brentwood.
The project, which has been on the drawing board since the late 1990’s, was to be built through development while in 2018 there began to be calls for road improvements and the expansion to begin after multiple fatal crashes and major injury accidents.
Back in July 2022, Sand Creek Road was prioritized as the Fourth Priority in the fee program. However, James Donlon Extension Project is now estimated to be $300 million which would mean ECCRFFA has a contribution of $200 million and the City of Pittsburg would contribute $100 million.
In February, ECCRFFA agreed to re-prioritize funding for the 3-mile Sand Creek Road extension with a unanimous vote after the City of Pittsburg could not afford the project at this time. The voting members included:
- Diane Burgis, Contra Costa County – Chair
- Lamar Thorpe, City of Antioch – Vice Chair
- Joel Bryant, City of Brentwood
- Aaron Meadows, City of Oakley
- Shanelle Scales-Preston, City of Pittsburg
This allowed Brentwood to move forward and hold Tuesdays groundbreaking ceremony on the $8.7 million project.
Brentwood Mayor Joel Bryant thanked the two Golden Eagles (dubbed Fred and Wilma) who delayed the start of the extension project as the project was supposed to begin in March but was held up due to the active nest. The eagles have since left and the project can now move forward.
“The Sand Creek Road Extension Project is an $8.7M project that will extend Sand Creek Road to Heidorn Ranch Road and will provide Brentwood residents with a direct connection to Kaiser Hospital and the Innovation Center that includes the recently City approved Costco to be located off of Lone Tree Plaza Drive,” said Bryant.
The project consists of vehicle travel lanes, bike lanes, median islands and utilities.
“It’s challenging projects like this, when faced with a delay outside of everyone’s control, where the term team is tested. I would like to thank all of the staff and everyone involved. This is the culmination of years of effort in looking out for our community,” said Bryant. “This road is going to save lives of the residents that are in need of a faster route to Kaiser hospital on Deer Valley.”
Bryant also called it a catalyst for economic development.
“I’d like to thank ECCRFFA or the East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority for prioritizing this project for funding and approving $4.1M in funding towards this project.”
Bryant then introduced Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis who he says had been spearheading the project for many years.
Burgis called it “exciting times” and looks forward to what this opportunity will bring to the region while thanking former elected leaders, including former mayor Bob Taylor.
“As chair of ECCRFFA, it was a unique time where we had to come up with a unanimous vote, but I want to acknowledge all the leaders who came before us who helped set the table,” said Burgis who explained it was about working together. “In East Contra Costa, we are all in this together, this road will make it safer and easier for people to get to Kaiser, but its also going to allow economic development, for the region and Brentwood. I am excited this is going forward.”
The ground breaking ceremony then occurred.
To view video from the groundbreaking, visit our Facebook Page
Previous story
- July 25, 2023: Brentwood City Council Votes to Move Forward With Costco
- March 1, 2023: ECCRFFA Agrees to Jump Sand Creek Road Extension in “Priority List”
