New Civic Center Roundabout Debuts in San Rafael

SAN RAFAEL, CA -- An intersection on Civic Center Drive near the Marin County Civic Center went circular on Dec. 1, as vehicular traffic is now flowing through a new roundabout for the first time.

The Civic Center Drive Improvement Project in San Rafael, overseen by the Marin County Department of Public Works, officially moved into its next phase when the roundabout at Civic Center Drive and the junction of Peter Behr Drive/Memorial Drive made its debut.

Crews have closed previously installed bypass roads through an adjacent vacant lot and shifted the traffic between the roundabout and nearby Avenue of the Flags. Public Works says that work on the east side of the corridor, primarily the stretch adjacent to the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium parking lot, should begin this week, as well.

“With the roundabout opening up to traffic, we are seeing the next phases of the project really take shape,” DPW Capital Projects Division Manager Patrick Zuroske said. “While there is still much work to be done, it is exciting to reach this milestone.”

The remaining construction requires periodic closures of Avenue of the Flags to complete work in and around the intersection with Civic Center Drive. Closures are expected to be short term and only during daytime hours. However, to avoid unnecessary delays, Zuroske encouraged visitors to the Marin Center complex to use Memorial Drive as an exit point when leaving Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium.

Similar work is being conducted slightly north at the Civic Center Drive and McInnis Parkway intersection, necessitating a temporary closure of the right turn lane on McInnis. The closure's expected to last about a week.

Also in early December, work's expected to begin on the north and south side of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) tracks to construct two medians as part of “quiet zone” improvements. The lanes crossing the train tracks are shifting to the west to make room for the new construction area.

Zuroske said the construction activities throughout the corridor will be extensive over the next two months, so travelers should anticipate periodic closures to pedestrian access and vehicle access at certain points within the construction zone.

Public Works asks that anyone moving through the corridor uses caution and is patient as crews work toward project completion.

On DPW’s website, residents can find a video that summarizes the improvement project, an animated simulation of how the roundabout will work, an overhead map of the area, an overview about the effectiveness of roundabouts from the federal government, and other documents.

Area image courtesy County of Marin