Delays Expected for the Next Week at the Caldecott Tunnel

Allow some extra time if you're driving near the Caldecott Tunnel this next week.

Work, testing and drills at the new tunnel between Orinda and Berkeley will cause delays, officials at Caltrans are warning motorists.

On Thursday night, crews will close the Fish Ranch Road westbound on-ramp so they can reconstruct it at a higher level. It's uncertain how many days this work will take.

In addition, Caltrans and emergency response agencies will be conducting drills in the fourth bore to test safety and other equipment. Motorists are advised that they might see flashing lights and emergency vehicles there.

Over the weekend, roadway work from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. around the tunnel will cause lane closures. Part of that work will be re-striping the westbound lanes into the current and new bores.

The $417 million Caldecott Tunnel bore project is nearing completion. Caltrans officials have said the new bore will open sometime in November, but the timing depends on when work is done and when safety drills are completed.

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