For Bores 1, 2, and 3 Rehabilitation and Ventilation Upgrade
10 PM–4:30 AM
By Caltrans
Caltrans is rehabilitating the Caldecott Tunnel Bores 1, 2 and 3 on State Route 24 between Orinda and Oakland to preserve the structural integrity of the tunnel, improve ventilation performance and firefighting operational response, and extend its service life.
The project rehabilitation scope includes, removing, and repairing cracks in the concrete, addressing rust and fixing water damage in tunnel walls and ceilings. Construction will also make improvements to the electrical and lighting systems within the tunnel. The fire safety aspect of the project includes installing new jet fans for tunnel ventilation and sprinkler system as fire suppression.
The $267 million project is made possible through federal and state funding, Gov. Newsom announced in late August.
Because the older tunnels are considered historical, the project required a Memorandum of Understanding between Caltrans and the California State Historic Preservation Officer regarding the “Programmatic Agreement among the Federal Highway Administration, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the California State Historic Preservation Officer, the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Sacramento District, San Francisco District and Los Angeles District, and the California Department of Transportation regarding compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act as it pertains to the administration of the Federal-Aid Highway Program in California.” It also required consultation with Native American Tribes in the Bay Area.
Closures
The bores will be closed from 10 PM to 4:30 AM on the following days beginning Monday night:
- EB Bore #2 Oct. 5 & 12
- EB Bore #1 Oct. 6 & 13
- WB Bore #3 Oct. 7
At least one bore in each direction will remain OPEN.
Photo: Caltrans
Purpose and Need
The purpose of this project is to preserve the structural integrity of the tunnel, improve ventilation performance and firefighting operational response, and extend its service life. The project is needed because Headquarters Structure Maintenance and Investigation (SM&I) and District 4 identified deficiencies during inspection and concluded that the three bores required upgrades. If not addressed, the deficiencies would trigger more frequent maintenance and lead to more extensive repairs in the future. An independent consultant, WSP, was tasked by the Division of Engineering Services (DES) and District 4 to perform a risk analysis exploring the ventilation capacities of the Complex Tunnel/Tubes within the State of California to address smoke from vehicle fires of current commercial vehicles. The risk analysis concluded that Caldecott Tunnel Bores 1, 2, and 3 are of the top risk priority in the State and recommended ventilation upgrades.
Project Details
- Draft Environmental Document (DED): January 6, 2025
- Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED): June 27, 2025
- Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E): June 30, 2026
- Ready to List (RTL): June 30, 2026
- CTC Funding Allocation: August 21, 2026
- Construction Award: September 2026
- Construction Start: Fall 2026
- Construction End: Fall 2029 (Tentative)
- Project Funding: SB1 SHOPP, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
More details at Caldecott Tunnel Bores 1, 2, and 3 Rehabilitation and Ventilation Upgrade | Caltrans.
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Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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