Rail replacement to take place in May near BART’s Orinda Station

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) will complete a track replacement project near the Orinda Station, requiring five weekend track shutdowns between the Lafayette and Rockridge Stations.

The shutdown weekends are May 9-10, May 23-25 (Memorial Day weekend), June 6-7, June 20-21 and July 4-5. Free buses will replace trains on those weekends and riders should expect delays of 20-25 minutes. The work will require temporary, late night and early morning lane closures of Highway 24 in Orinda to make way for construction equipment. Periodic overnight lane closures in Orinda will begin in mid-April. These overnight lane closures will involve no more than two lanes and are expected to have minimal impact on Highway 24 drivers. Unlike similar work completed last year in Lafayette, this project will not require daytime lane closures on Highway 24.

BART says crews will work around the clock on those weekends to replace four mainline switches (interlockings), as well as other critical railway components. Replacing the trackway components will enhance reliability and rider safety.  Many of the components being replaced are more than 40-years old and have reached the end of their design life. Once the project is complete BART customers will experience a more comfortable ride and trains will be quieter for riders and neighbors.

Track revitalization to begin this summer in Hayward

Major track replacement work is scheduled to begin the weekend of July 18-19 on aging equipment in Hayward. The work is expected to require five weekend track shutdowns between the Bay Fair and South Hayward stations. Free buses will replace trains on those weekends and riders can expect 20-40 minute delays. The track shutdown weekends are scheduled to be July 18-19, August 1-2, August 22-23, September 5-7 (Labor Day weekend) and September 19-20. More details will be announced closer to the start of work.