Moraga Officials Announce Temporary Traffic Solutions Near Sinkhole

-Bay City News; images via Moraga PD, Moraga-Orinda Fire District Facebook page

MORAGA - Nearly two months after a damaging sinkhole shut down a main thoroughfare in Moraga, the town's officials announced Wednesday that temporary traffic solutions have been established.

Westbound Rheem Boulevard has been reopened and other changes were made to facilitate traffic affected by the sinkhole, which formed along the boulevard near the Center Street intersection, Moraga officials said.

The sinkhole appeared March 13 after eight consecutive days of wet weather, which town crews determined late last month to be the culprit behind the infrastructure failure.

Also on Patch:

• Sink Hole Opens In Moraga When Gas Line Ruptures
• Moraga Asks For State Help To Repair Sinkhole Damage
• Governor Brown Declares State Of Emergency for Contra Costa County
• 8 Straight Days Of Rain Caused Moraga Sinkhole: Officials
• Moraga Sinkhole Intersection Is Safe For Vehicle Travel: Consultants

While crews prepare for a repair project to replace a 96-inch corrugated metal pipe that collapsed at the site, Rheem Boulevard will be open to traffic on one lane in both directions, town officials said.

There is also now a four-way stop at Rheem Boulevard and Center Street.

Additionally, town officials said traffic has to take right turns in the right lane of westbound Rheem Boulevard at Moraga Road.

Town officials said these measures will continue until construction begins on the sinkhole - sometime after Town Council hears recommendations on the project from consultants on June 8.

The repairs are anticipated to take up to three months and may cost around $3.5 million, which town officials have said is more than Moraga can afford.

Although the town has not yet announced that it received funding for the project, Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation April 19 declaring a state of emergency for Contra Costa County and 10 other counties related to damage from March storms, which allows the town to qualify for federal funding sources.