commute time

The Caldecott Tunnel cuts through the East Oakland hills to connect Oakland to the adjoining county.  Since the 3rd bore was drilled in the 1960s, Contra Costa County has had a huge surge in population and is now a bedroom community to the East Bay and San Francisco.  You can see that commute time involves long waits to crawl through the tunnel.  Hopefully the 4th bore, due to be completed in 2013, will help alleviate this traffic snarl.  We'll see.  Tip:  During the most intense commute period, you can drive a winding road over the hills faster than you can drive through the tunnel.  Shhh, don't tell.  P.S.  Note the deer sign.  Even though we live in a highly urban area, wildlife is abundant.  Besides deer, it is common to see coyote, possum, skunks, and foxes.  On occasion, people spot mountain lions.  Really.

construction at the Caldecott Tunnel

The Caldecott Tunnel bores through the Oakland hills to connect the East Bay with Contra Costa County.  It's a heavily traveled route which results in intense traffic snarls during commute hours.  So now a fourth bore is being drilled to the tune of $420 million.  During construction these imposing sound walls have been built to protect the housing development that faces the freeway from construction noise.  Every time I see them I can't help but think of 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Just last week, fossils were uncovered by the dig!