Solano Transportation Authority and Cal Trans unveiled the first-ever diverging diamond interchange in the Bay Area at State Route 37 and Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo on Tuesday.
A diverging diamond interchange directs opposing traffic to switch lanes temporarily on either side of the interchange in an effort to eliminate the need for left turns across oncoming traffic.
Solano Transportation Authority Chair and Suisun City Mayor Alma Hernandez welcomed attendees to the event and recognized dignitaries including Congressman John Garamendi, Solano County Supervisors Cassandra James and Mitch Mashburn, Dixon Mayor Steve Bird, Rio Vista Mayor Edwin Okamura, Vallejo City Manager Harry Black, Vallejo Mayor Andrea Source, Benicia Mayor Steve Young and more. Vallejo-based rapper Mac Mall also attended the ceremony.
Hernandez said the interchange will improve safety for motorists and pedestrians and quality of life for the community. She said upgrades will support increased economic development and improved traffic flow, serving as a gateway to Vallejo.
“We are celebrating an exciting new development for the city of Vallejo and the county of Solano,” Hernandez said.
Officials promised less traffic and time on the roads after the opening of the intersection, reducing delays at peak traffic times by 90 percent.
Garamendi thanked Hernandez and all stakeholders for their collaboration on the project.
“Solano County is on the move,” he said. “It’s on the move because of the leadership that is here”
Garamendi said he played a role in getting the financing started, but the project is a result of Vallejo and Solano County’s determination over the course of about 20 years.
Jamal Rocker, Vallejo rapper Mac Mall, talks about the importance of involving the community during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Drive Diverging Diamond Interchange at Fairgrounds Drive and Hwy 37 in Vallejo on Tuesday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy congratulated STA on the major accomplishment.
“It takes a lot to be bold and take action like this,” she said.
El-Tawansy said many more updates are still to come for Vallejo, including sea level rise and traffic mitigation on SR 37. She thanked Ghilotti Construction, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and the Country Club Crest Community.
“This celebration marks just the beginning, because we have so much work to be done on SR 37,” she said.
El-Tawansy said the upgrades will fix stop-and-go conditions at peak traffic and due to Six Flags. She said she is particularly proud of the bike and pedestrian lane, an issue near and dear to Caltrans. She said the updates to the area will lower fuel consumption and encourage active transportation.
“That’s why we are here; we are all public servants to make it better for everyone,” she said. She said the impact of this project will go beyond the community in Vallejo and deepen the organization’s relationships in the entire region.
“These men and women, their support is just incredible for every project that we do,” she said.
Mashburn said the interchange worked in a partially complete condition for the Solano County Fair. He thanked all involved on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
“None of this happens without Caltrans and all the Caltrans workers who are out here in the back,” he said.
Supervisor Cassandra James said for those who live in the area, the intersection is the crossroads of their community and the gateway to Six Flags and wine country.
“Infrastructure is much more than concrete and steel,” she said. “It’s about safety.”
James said the interchange illustrates remarkable engineering and bold innovation is at work in the area. She said 707 is more than an area code; it is a symbol of resilience.
“Innovation has a home right here in the 707,” James said.