Council member Nix addresses Oakley's problemsCouncil member Nix addresses Oakley's problemsSeptember 5, 2003
The wheels of city government may move slowly, but Oakley City Council member Brad Nix says be patient, we are getting there. At a recent speaking engagement with Oakley business owners, Nix spoke on transportation issues that the city and East County will be facing in the coming years. While it may look like the wheels are stuck in the mud, Nix says that progress takes time.
For years Oakley residents have been hearing that the Highway 4 Bypass is on the way. At first, about 10 years ago, in fact, the public was informed it would be in about five to seven years. Well, we have surpassed that and Nix says that it is at least another 10 to 15 years away.
“Highway 4 has been a battle since it started,” Nix said. “We have been working on a limited budget.” We may all assume that because our Main Street is considered a state highway that Caltrans is responsible for fixing the road. If that were the case it would probably take more than another 15 years to start work, since the state’s budget is in worse condition than our young city’s. It will be up to the residents of Oakley and the city’s redevelopment fund to pay for the road improvements.
“There are a lot of projects in the works here in Oakley right now and we need to take them in the most importance,” Nix said.
First and foremost, Nix said that although it seems quite a few promises have been made regarding the street light for Gehringer School, “it will be up within the next six to 12 months.” Again, remember that our Main Street is on Highway 4 and there have been a few hang-ups. Even with them, the developer, KB Home, who agreed to put up the street light is waiting and ready. They have already purchased the equipment for the street light and as soon as the go ahead is given, Nix said construction will start.
There is also a street light planned for O’Hara Avenue and Main Street in the next six to 12 months. As well as one planned for Live Oak Avenue and Main Street. Within the next two years the city is also planning a light on Cypress Road and Empire Avenue. That light will depend on a traffic study to determine when it is going to be needed.
Near and dear to Nix’s heart will be a precise road alignment for Laurel Road. “Laurel Road will be Oakley’s major street in the next 20 years,” Nix said. Mostly because it has been chosen by the county as the connection for the bypass that heads out to Highway J4. The first change residents will see will be the expansion of the road on the corner of O’Hara Avenue and Laurel Road for the Safeway shopping center. That should begin production soon. Safeway is in the process of building in Brentwood first and then will start construction in Oakley. Laurel Road will eventually become a six-lane road. And of course eventually there will be a traffic light at the corner of Laurel Road and O’Hara Avenue.
Of concern to many is the O’Hara Avenue and the Freedom High School traffic. “There are so many young drivers and it is a major accident waiting to happen,” said Jan Calahan, Oakley resident and business owner.
“We are still waiting for developers and hoping for assistance in payment,” Nix said. The hope is that Brown Road will be widened and connect with Freedom and take some of the traffic off of O’Hara Avenue and Neroly Road.
Nix said that one of the major problems that Oakley faces is that so few tax dollars are spent by Oakley residents. It is estimated that only $9,500 per year is spent by each Oakley resident. In other towns the total is much higher. Part of the problem has to do with lack of “bix bog” retailers in Oakley like Target or K-Mart. That is one project that the city redevelopment agency is working hard on. Bringing in more money will allow the city to work on roads and transportation.
Nix said that there are many sites in Oakley that can accommodate big businesses, whether it is shopping centers, technology centers or light industrial. All would be welcome and all would bring money into the community for additions to make our community more successful.
Roni Gehlke's column on life in Oakley appears each week in the Brentwood News.
Distributed by the Contra Costa Times