With more than 70,000 expected to come to the fireworks show and other festivities at the Alameda County Fair tomorrow, Pleasanton police and traffic authorities are prepared with a plan to move vehicles and pedestrians in and out of the fairgrounds safely.
The plan is aimed at coordinating a safe and efficient exit for the crowds expected to attend the fair and fireworks display, which includes live accompaniment by the Oakland East Bay Symphony.
The city is collaborating with numerous agencies on the traffic plan, including the California Highway Patrol, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Alameda County Fair, Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority (Wheels buses), BART and the Pleasanton school district.
“This traffic plan is designed to create a more orderly exit from the fairgrounds on July 4, one that will expedite the flow of traffic and allow emergency vehicles access to the fair if necessary,” Pleasanton police chief Dave Spiller said.
“Our best advice to those who plan to attend the festivities at the fair on July 4 would be to arrive early to secure parking,” he added. “Those who are not planning to attend the fair would do best to avoid the area to avoid congestion.”
The traffic plan includes street and freeway exit closures, as well as alternative bus routes.
There will be no parking allowed on neighborhood streets around the fairgrounds. As early as 3 p.m., some streets will be closing, including westbound Bernal Avenue from First Street to Valley Avenue. Pleasanton Avenue at Bernal Avenue will also be closed to vehicle traffic.
Parents are encouraged to accompany their underage minor children to the fair because drop-off and pick-up in a close location to the fair may not be possible, city officials said.
In addition, some intersections will only allow traffic in certain directions. For example, eastbound Bernal at Valley avenues will only allow turns onto southbound Valley Avenue.
Following the fireworks show, traffic exiting the fairgrounds will be directed to the freeways according to specific routes, based upon which gate visitors leave:
* Gate 12: traffic exits on northbound Valley Avenue to Hopyard Road to I-580
* Gate 8: traffic exits southbound Valley Avenue to westbound Bernal Avenue to I-680 north
* Gates 5 and 6: traffic exits eastbound Bernal Avenue to Sunol Boulevard to I-680
* Gate 9: traffic exits from Rose Avenue to Fair Street to Division/Hopyard Road to I-580
* Downtown: traffic exits northbound Main Street to Santa Rita Road to I-580.
