Oak removal prompts closure of Ygnacio Valley Road lane Wednesday morning

Two decaying oak trees along Ygnacio Valley Road need to go. The trees have decaying root systems and are at risk of falling at any time, Walnut Creek's arborist has determined. They could "pose a threat to drivers and passers-by," says the city's community relations manager Gayle Vassar.

For the removal, workers will close one westbound lane of Ygnacio Valley Road, between Via Monte and Wiget Lane near the historic Penniman House, home of the Shadelands Ranch Museum, starting at around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Vassar says the workers hope to have the lane open by the afternoon commute.

The city will plant young oaks at the location. For more information, contact arborist John Davis at jdavis@walnut-creek.org or (925) 943-5899 ext. 2281.

Update on road work and expected lane closures around Ygnacio Valley Road and John Muir Medical Center

Before John Muir can open its new, expanded five-story hospital tower at its campus off Ygnacio Valley Road, the hospital facility needs to finish street improvements on Ygnacio Valley and La Casa Via that will "allow more efficient traffic flow," says a press release.

The road work is expected to begin Thursday and to finish in November. According to Ben Drew, director of corporate communications for John Muir Health, the road work includes the following:

--Widening Ygnacio Valley Road for both a new right turn lane from eastbound Ygnacio Valley Road onto La Casa Via and a second left turn lane from westbound Ygnacio Valley Road onto La Casa Via.

--Widening La Casa Via for a new dedicated right turn lane from La Casa Via onto eastbound Ygnacio Valley Road.

--Repaving eastbound Ygnacio Valley Road from 250 feet west of La Casa Via to John Muir Drive.

--Repaving the intersection at Ygnacio Valley Road, Kinross Drive, and La Casa Via.

--Repaving La Casa Via from Ygnacio Valley Road to Montego.

--Traffic signal improvements at the intersections of Ygnacio Valley Road and John Muir Drive and Ygnacio Valley Road and La Casa Via.

--Relocation and reconstruction of the Ygnacio Valley Road median between La Casa Via and John Muir Drive.

Before I go on, I should mention that a a specially designated webpage on the John Muir website, listing roadwork updates, says that AT&T was supposed to begin work underground on their utilities last week. This work  would require one lane of Ygnacio Valley Road to be closed. The lane closure would take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

And, why is all this road work taking place?

Says the release from John Muir: the campus is completing its five-story, 380,000-square-foot Tom and Billie Long Patient Care Tower, which will double the size of the John Muir-Walnut Creek campus.

"The building has been designed to promote a healing environment for patients with rooms specifically designed to maximize space for technology, staff and family members," the release says.

"In addition to 242 new patient beds, of which 230 will be in private patient rooms, there will also be a new lobby and a separate public elevator and corridor system to ensure patient privacy. Other highlights include three new inpatient surgical suites, a high-speed trauma elevator that will carry patients directly from the helipad on the roof of the tower to the emergency room, 24 new, larger, private critical care rooms and 13 new intensive care neonatal beds."

Walnut Creek "mobility gripe No. 3: Where the sidewalk ends on Ygnacio Valley

I'm sure city planners had good reason at some point, allowing this notable gap in the sidewalk between John Muir Medical Center and San Carlos Drive. And, I'm sure there are readers out there who can explain how this came about and correct my ignorance.

And, yes, there is something nice about the idea of building a "green" sound wall to protect residents along Los Altos Avenue from the heavy traffic noise of Ygnacio Valley Road.

And, I know that you can take what can be a pleasant detour north of John Muir hospital, onto the trail that takes you into San Miguel Park.

And, I know you can cross Ygnacio there from the south side to the north. Yeah, and you can wait and wait for the "walking man" signal that lets you cross...

But still. This gap is just that: a gap, which hinders easy pedestrian and bicycle mobility from one point on Ygnacio to another....

I've come across it frequently my little jogs, like this morning, around town, when I choose to climb up and over Ygnacio Valley Road. And, this sidewalk stop has always mystified me.

Oh, and to the left is peek at the fence on the other side of the soundwall.