To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: HEARING to consider adopting Traffic Resolution No. 2026/4557 for an 18-month extension of the temporary overnight road closure of Carquinez Scenic Drive, Martinez area.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
OPEN the public hearing to consider adopting the attached Traffic Resolution approving an extension of the temporary road closure of Carquinez Scenic Drive (Road No. 2191B), between the city limits of Martinez and extending westerly to McEwen Road (Road No. 2784), between sunset and sunrise, beginning June 27, 2026, and continuing for 18 months thereafter, through December 27, 2027, to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of serious and continual illegal dumping and criminal activity, as recommended by the Public Works Director, Martinez area. (District V); RECEIVE testimony; and CLOSE the public hearing.
MAKE the findings set forth in the attached Traffic Resolution.
ADOPT the attached Traffic Resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact
BACKGROUND:
Following landslides in the early 1980s, the Board of Supervisors has, on various occasions, closed Carquinez Scenic Drive from the Ozol Fuel Facility (owned by the United States of America) to the Contra Costa Brick Works Plant 9 (former property of TXI Operations and recently purchased by the East Bay Regional Park District). Nighttime activities along the road generate refuse, trash, human waste, and other illegal activities. The previous closures and extensions expired by March 31, 2023. Due to serious and recurring illegal dumping activity and serious and recurring criminal activity, the County ordered a new temporary closure of the roadway by adopting Traffic Resolution No. 2024/4541, which ordered the overnight closure of the roadway from December 27, 2024, through June 27, 2026.
The Park District requested that the County extend the closure ordered by Traffic Resolution 2024/4541. On May 21, 2026, and on April 29, 2026, Public Works Department staff received the recommendations from the California Highway Patrol and the County Office of the Sheriff, respectively, to continue the temporary overnight closure of this segment of roadway. This is the first extension of that closure. The County Public Works Department, the County Office of the Sheriff, and the California Highway Patrol support the Park District’s request to extend the temporary closure of Carquinez Scenic Drive, between the city limits of Martinez and extending westerly to McEwen Road, between sunset and sunrise, to prevent the recurrence of serious and recurring illegal dumping and criminal activity.
Public Works Department staff mailed notices of this hearing to the owners - as shown on the last equalized assessment roll - of properties adjacent to that section of Carquinez Scenic Drive between the city limits of Martinez and extending westerly to McEwen Road, in accordance with Vehicle Code section 21101.4(c).
During this extended period of temporary closure, emergency vehicles will continue to have access to the roadway. Public Works Department recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt the above-described traffic resolution to extend the temporary overnight closure of this segment of roadway, pursuant to Vehicle Code section 21101.4(b).
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The closure of Carquinez Scenic Drive would not be extended beyond June 27, 2026, which could result in the occurrence or recurrence of illegal dumping and serious criminal activities along this segment.
G:\transeng\Traffic\Temporary Road Closures\Carquinez Scenic Drive -Combined Segments\New 18-month Closure Extensions\Extension - 27Jun26 to 27Dec2027\Staff Report.doc