 | | | Project map Provided | | | | | | The replacement of one mile of PG&E gas pipeline under St. Mary's Road and the closure of the arterial during the summer are in no way as controversial at the tree removal project in Lafayette (see article page A3) and the recent Lafayette information session on May 23 did not draw crowds. Residents on both sides of the Lafayette-Moraga borders have questions, however, mainly pertaining to access routes and detours.
The town of Moraga and the city of Lafayette have confirmed that the utility agency secured the required encroachment permits to start work on June 7, closing the arterial Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Aug. 14. The construction plan has been updated to permit street access at all times for residents whose only outlet is St. Mary's Road.
The three-phased approach will start by closing two sections of road between Lucille and just south of Rohrer Drive, and below Driftwood Drive to Wallabi Court, north of Cattle Chute Road. The scheduled time allocated for this first phase is June 7 to July 12. The small section between Camino Colorados and Driftwood will stay open, giving Driftwood residents a detour through Camino Colorados, Rohrer and Merriewood Drive. Residents from Cattle Chute Road and south of that road will have to travel on Rheem Boulevard and Moraga Road to reach Lafayette.
Phase 2 from July 6 to Aug. 3 will close the road between Wallabi and south of Bollinger Canyon Road, just before Rheem Boulevard. Phase 3 will address the small section starting north of Camino Colorados to Driftwood. The repair of the valve at Lucille Lane should not impact traffic.
Julian Lacson of PG&E confirmed that first responders would have access to any part of the road at any time. The road will not in fact be dug across its entire width, and Lacson said that clearing a passage for emergency vehicles should not add any delay to their response time. PG&E representatives are scheduled to meet with emergency services this week. The dynamic will be the same for residents reaching or leaving their homes if no detour is available, but no through traffic will be permitted.
Electronic signs were installed along St. Mary's Road mid-May to alert motorists of the impending closures. PG&E representative Tamar Sarkissian said that approximately 3,500 customers in the Moraga and Lafayette areas have received letters from PG&E outlining the work. A second public meeting will be held tonight, May 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Saint Mary's College in Claeys Lounge at the Soda Center.
Additionally, Sarkissian said that PG&E representatives will be canvasing the Bluffs area and other homes located off Bollinger Canyon Road in Moraga to alert customers and address their questions.
The Lafayette and Moraga public works departments explain that this is not their project and that questions should be directed to PG&E. The contact person is Lacson, who can be reached at (925) 459-8097. He confirmed on May 25 that the agency would have a page available on its website for updates. The agency's information team has also posted on social media and asked if it could access Nixle, the emergency response text messaging system.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA