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San Tomas - what's up?

Anyone know why they're cutting up the pavement on the northbound side of San Tomas Expressway before El Camino? It looks like they're narrowing the buffer? Before I start ranting about what our taxes pay for and discrimination against cyclists I should probably find out what's going on... ;)

Well, at least the street might actually get swept due to the construction! :)

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Carlos's picture
Submitted by Carlos on

I just rode that stretch about 5 days ago and didn't see any "future roadwork signs". On the county's website the list just about every other expressway project but nothing is listed for San Tomas.

pmackay's picture
Submitted by pmackay on

It's in that stretch where all the pine needles and cones fall from those trees. Maybe they figure it's easier to get rid of the street than to sweep it? ;)

Rusty's picture
Submitted by Rusty on

I think the orange paint is outlining an extension to the existing gutter. The newly laid down paint starts at the gutter apron from the existing gutter/curb from an on ramp and extends to tne gutter/curb of the next off ramp.

pmackay's picture
Submitted by pmackay on

Well, the lanes have sure gotten narrow in places since they've cut out the roadway. Maybe they are doing this to give the tree roots room? There's a county maintenance number posted on the corner of Central and Oakmead, so I'll put it into my phone next time I get a red light there and call to find out if they can answer some questions.

Paul Metz's picture
Submitted by Paul Metz on

Per 8/3/2010 Roadshow column in the Merc:

Q Why the orange paint on the shoulders of San Tomas Expressway?

Steve Miller, Chris Pedersen, John Michael Williams and more

A The county is adding curbs along the right shoulder where there currently aren’t any. Work should end in October.

pmackay's picture
Submitted by pmackay on

Thanks for the info Paul! I guess my real question is what problems are they spending money for the curbs to solve? The lanes will be dangerously narrow in places, and frankly I'd prefer being driven into the dirt than over the handlebars. I'm on this stretch daily and yes, it's happened.

Also, since they have the funds lying around to put curbs in, I'm assuming they won't have a lack of funds to keep the lanes swept?

pmackay's picture
Submitted by pmackay on

At first I thought they might be putting in sidewalks, but they're not. Fortunately the new raised curbs are going in where the old lips were, so it looks like the orange lines are just cut lines and not where the curbs will move to (whew). I've written to the county with no response, and I still fail to see the problem they're spending our money to solve. These, the same people who claim they have no budget for improvements, let alone sweep the streets, which they've pretty much reduced to only twice a year.

But I'm not bitter. ;-)