Backup and confusion on the east end of Camino Tassajara is over.
The road near Diablo Vista Middle School and Tassajara Hills Elementary School has been widened and is now four lanes. Traffic loops, which are lights that are triggered by traffic, have been installed and are operational at Shadowcreek Drive, KnollView Drive and Hansen Lane, and a four-way traffic signal and left-hand turn signal have been installed at the new Lusitano Street.
The roadway improvements are to make way for the 1,400 new homes being built on Camino Tassajara by Shapell Homes and Lennar Homes. Shapell Homes is building the new subdivision Alamo Creek, and Lennar is building the intervening properties.
These roadway improvements included widening Camino Tassajara to four lanes. Along with the widening, East Bay Municipal Utility District, SBC Communications, Comcast and PG&E installed infrastructure for the new homes.
Roadwork on Camino Tassajara was originally supposed to be completed by the start of school in September. Due to construction delays, roadwork was extended another two months, impacting Diablo Vista Middle School and Tassajara Hills Elementary School, which are the two schools on Camino Tassajara.
During the construction, traffic was moved from the north side of Camino Tassajara between Hansen Lane and Tassajara Hills on the south side. No left turns were allowed from Camino Tassajara westbound into Diablo Vista at Hansen Lane. Drivers who normally make this left turn had to head west to Lawrence Road to make a U-turn.
Flashing red lights were temporarily employed during roadwork. To ensure the safety of students, the crosswalk at Hansen Lane in front of Diablo Vista Middle School was closed. The housing developers provided a crossing guard and flagmen to help direct traffic at both schools.
At Diablo Vista Middle School, the impact was minimal, and sometimes beneficial.
“We haven’t gotten the brunt,” said Principal Rebecca Ingram. “Drop off was a lot smoother because it only came in one direction. It will now turn back to two directions entering.”
The impact to parents, students and staff at Tassajara Hills Elementary School was greater.
“It did mean everybody was more on edge. People were being unpleasant with each other. There was this obstacle in front of us all the time,” said Principal Luann Duggan. “It didn’t get our school year off to a good start.”
Because of the construction, there was no street parking at the elementary school, and parents had to park in the school’s limited lot. Some parents reverted to parking within the east gate of Blackhawk, said Duggan, which created problems with Blackhawk.
Delays also meant students were late to school, said Duggan. Even though it was a challenging start to the school year, no student’s safety was ever jeopardized and now the roadwork is complete.
“I have to say, Shapell and road works have done what they could to coordinate with us,” said Duggan. The school thanked the eight flagmen assigned to their school by holding a contest for “Favorite Flagman.” They were able to raise enough to award each of the flagmen a $50 gift certificate, said Duggan. It was a way for staff and parents to show their appreciation.
Despite the disruption, complaints were minimal, said Dave Cantrell, a representative of Lennar Homes. “I expected to have to carry extra batteries for my phone, but there’s only been half a dozen calls and inquiries.”
