A months-long pavement preservation project on Point San Pedro Road begins Aug. 17, bringing lane closures, parking tow-aways and temporary driveway shutdowns to the East San Rafael corridor through October.
The City of San Rafael and Marin County are jointly resurfacing the road from San Rafael High School to east of Biscayne Drive, according to a travel advisory published Friday, Aug. 7, by the Point San Pedro Road Coalition citing the city. Crews will apply slurry seal, a thin layer of asphalt and crushed rock that extends pavement life, working one segment at a time and moving eastward toward the San Rafael Rock Quarry.
Timeline
Portable message signs go up and construction notifications will be hand-delivered to residents and businesses starting Monday, Aug. 10. Pavement striping removal begins Aug. 17 near the Union Street intersection. Slurry seal application is scheduled to start Aug. 24.
Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The project is expected to wrap up sometime in October, though the exact date depends on weather.
What residents need to know
"No Parking – Tow Away" signs will be posted 48 to 72 hours before crews reach each block. Vehicles or trailers left in the work zone on slurry seal days will be towed.
Driveways in the active work area will be temporarily inaccessible on slurry seal days. Residents will get 72-hour advance notice before work reaches their block.
Streets scheduled for slurry seal on garbage pickup day will receive early collection. Bins must be out by 6 a.m. Delivery services, including Amazon, UPS, FedEx and USPS, may experience delays; residents are advised to update delivery instructions the week their area is scheduled.
The advisory also warns against watering lawns or running sprinklers on construction days, since runoff can damage the fresh surface. Driving on uncured slurry can track oil onto sidewalks, driveways and carpets.
Traffic and bike impacts
Lane closures with flaggers and one-way traffic controls will be in place during work. Temporary bike lane closures are expected. Pedestrian access will be maintained with flagger support. Emergency vehicles will have full access at all times.
Safety upgrades included
Beyond resurfacing, the project incorporates safety changes, according to Marin County Public Works: travel lanes will narrow from 12 feet to 11 feet, "Share the Road" signage will be added, green conflict markings will go in along turn lanes, and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons will be installed at Knight Drive, Peacock Drive and Riviera Drive.
The pavement project is one of four 2026 improvements planned for the corridor. The others include a HAWK pedestrian signal, a retaining wall replacement and a roadway realignment.
The corridor has already seen safety action this summer. The San Rafael City Council unanimously approved a speed limit reduction on Point San Pedro Road between Marina Boulevard and Porto Bello Drive, dropping it from 40 mph to 35 mph at its July 22 meeting. Kevin Hagerty, a board member of the Point San Pedro Road Coalition, told the council at that meeting approving the speed reduction, "We hope this action will result in the city considering the future speed reductions of the rest of Point San Pedro Road," the Marin Independent Journal reported.
Block-by-block schedules have not been published. Residents can subscribe to project updates through the Marin County Public Works e-subscribe page or watch for the 72-hour posted notices on their street.
