In an effort to curb aggressive driving and improve safety at a busy Walnut Creek intersection, the City has installed a series of plastic traffic lane separators along westbound Ygnacio Valley Road at Oak Grove Road. The traffic lane separators, installed in the dedicated right-turn lane, are designed to prevent drivers from using the lane to bypass the backed-up through-traffic. City officials say the move comes after repeated complaints and observations of motorists veering into the turn lane, only to cut back into the through lanes at the last minute, creating a dangerous merging situation.
The right-turn lane is intended for drivers turning north onto Oak Grove Road. It’s not a passing lane, and this behavior has created both congestion and safety issues. The plastic barriers, often referred to as “delineators,” are mounted directly to the roadway and force drivers to commit to the turn. Local drivers have had mixed reactions, with some praising the move as long overdue and others calling it an inconvenience. Traffic through the intersection is routinely backed up during peak commute hours, leading some drivers to bend the rules in an attempt to shave off a few minutes.
Have you noticed the change? Let us know what you think about the new barriers in the comments below.
I think the barrier is on WEST bound IVR, turning NORTH onto Oak Grove – not East bound but I could be wrong
You are right but it’s YVR.
Generally a good idea imho – but in case of emergency vehicles trying to get through the deadlocked traffic there at times – they could get significantly delayed … also going westward on YVR after passing Oak Grove , there are white delineators as well preventing people from lane changing to the right (to use the 3rd lane) – it goes on far too long
This is great, now all we need is to install toll booths at Kirker Pass since the city of Walnut Creek and Concord are responsible for the upkeep on Ygnacio Valley Road.
Maybe the majority of people (Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, etc.) that cut through our town (s) will take Highway 4 (as was intended).
This action, would reduce wear and tear on the road and reduce traffic.
Is what they really need to do it make ygnacio a freeway, but i know that was killed many years ago.
I used to live in Seattle and where there are a number of east-west “streets” that were planned to become freeways but it never happened. It would have helped quite a bit.
It’s already a freeway!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbWg-mozGsU
IMMEDIATE beaming smile when I saw the first millisecond of that, the western scene, knew precisely what it was. I thank you for that brief laugh. Of course, I couldn’t help think of a certain guv, not Le Petomaine, when Slim said “What’ll that…..”
“The Grant” posted that they need to install toll booths on Kirker Pass, and I can’t hear the words toll booth without immediately thinking about this scene. And I’ll bet I’m thinking of the save guv that you are.
So anytime i want to leave home and go to a different city, or commute to work im paying toll then even though i live here?
That’s great but what about repaving the road first. It is horrible! It is a heavily utilized road daily and it hasn’t been repaved in decades. When will the city fix that?
They used to have an officer stationed there just for that purpose it was quite effective. Funny how when they elimanate procedures that actually work that the problem persists again…put an officer back there & hand out tickets this will solve the problem again rapidly!
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only place they have to monitor.
WC continues their long tradition of providing entertainment.
Saw them last week an dang near laughed myself silly.
.
Someone will try running over them, IF it can be done
without damaging vehicles it’ll be open season.
First to try will be pickups with high ground clearance.
.
For another laugh, drive down Lennon Lane off
Ygnacio Valley Road, Kaiser Shadelands offices,
they’ve redone street lane layout, someone has+
an odd sense of humor. Bike lane is now next to curb,
next is vehicle parking, then traffic lane. An let us not
forget to mention little white posts, WC is now so fond of.
@Original G
Someone has already tried, as a few of those white sticks have a lot of black marks. And boy, are you right about Lennon Lane. What a bunch of stupid s&it. I’ve been there a lot recently and still haven’t seen a single bicycle rider, which is the reason for that ridiculous configuration.
The boat buoys pop right back up but the whites sticks fold down and stay down.
There must be a lot of far sighted drivers on Lennon Lane.
As for the bicycle lanes, it’s all part of the W.C. “No Cars Transit Village” mental nose job.
Probably a case of one or two bicycle riders complaining to their friends on the City Council.
Similar, not the same as to what was done @ Concord Blvd and Farm Bureau and for the same reason.
I use that lane and I LOVE IT! I was so tired of people driving in it then breaking the law daily, running red lights…people have lost their minds and consciousness! Good on ya for making this a safer place to drive!
Now extend the left turn lane, it doesn’t accommodate enough cars for the school traffic, which is what causes the backups.
A band aid, not a solution.
It acts like a railroad siding. I’ve already watched people in the next lane over blast past it and turn right ahead of all the cars sitting in the right lane.
And the city has more condos and fast food being built in that area soon.
Revenue before safety……….
LOVE IT SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!
Used lane today the little white post are already taking a beating
What if a make believe doctor is responding to a make believe emergency?
I guess I’ll have to use the sidewalk!
But what about us that do intend to commit to the turn, but happen to just forget to change to that right lane immediafely, now we’re destined to miss our turn every time 🙁
Maybe pay attention?…..
Finally!! They also added “delineators” on Oak Grove Rd at YVR. Those are up to influence those who think a U-turn over a double yellow line is OK as long as the WCPD motor officer is not sitting there! I don’t remember reading that in the vehicle code. Again, “I’m more important that ALL of you!”
My memories from my daily Northgate commute are from many years ago, but I remember a lot of folks actually making a right turn from YVR onto Oak Grove and immediately making a U-turn.
I’m glad these went up and they make a huge difference. Not a week has gone by where I haven’t seen someone in the right turn lane from Ygnacio to Oak Grove, cut back into Ygancio from the right turn lane at the last moment. I’m also appreciative for the ones on Oak Grove, that limit the weird u-turn people make from Ygnacio, to Oak Grove, to Ygnacio. I’ll never understand why people don’t care, and think it’s okay. And also, you can wait like the rest of us?
I did notice something new though. I’ve seen people turn right from the Ygancio to Oak Grove when they’re NOT in the right turn lane. Basically they’re making a right turn from the intersection. I guess they were caught off guard about the guarded lane, and wanted to turn anyway.
Also, the beginning dividers look like they’ve taken a beating in the past week. Last minute decisions I guess.
It seems if there’s boundaries, people push them as far as they can.
It’s about time!