Community Corner

Work on El Camino to Improve Pedestrian Safety

Do you think Millbrae needs more crosswalks across El Camino?

Caltrans is removing the triangular island by to improve pedestrian safety on El Camino Real, and the work is causing traffic delays for motorists approaching the right-hand turn from Millbrae Avenue.

To ease traffic congestion, Caltrans will increase the timing of the green light on Millbrae Avenue and prohibit u-turns for southbound El Camino drivers.

After the work by Peter's Cafe is completed within the next couple of weeks, construction will begin on removing the pedestrian island adjacent to Chase Bank. 

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In addition, pedestrians coming to and from BART will now have a quicker route to downtown thanks to a new traffic light and crosswalk to be built on El Camino Real and Victoria Avenue.

The construction is expected to begin in April and should be completed by August, and includes a new traffic signal, new bus stops with benches, beautification of the median and a crosswalk. The project will cost about $470,000, but the city will only pay $55,000 as federal and county grants will fund the remainder.

Find out what's happening in Millbraewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The median will also be widened to provide a safe-heaven for pedestrians," said Public Works Director Ron Popp.

The city does not expect any additional congestion on El Camino because of the new light, and Caltrans conducted a traffic study to ensure proper traffic flow.

Because of the favorable construction costs due to the poor economic climate, the project will cost about 40 percent less than the city engineer’s estimate in 2008. The city expected construction to start a few years ago, but Caltrans delayed allocating the federal grants needed, according to city documents.


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