Laurel Road, East of O’Hara Av, is an embarrassment to the City in my mind. The location, which I believe every resident in Oakley that drives has encountered at one time or another. The two-lane road becomes one as drivers head East on the road. As traffic increases post-pandemic and the ongoing development in the City builds Oakley’s population, Laurel Road has become a nightmare to navigate any hour of the day. The City of Oakley needs to correct the bottleneck.
There has been one shooting (fortunately, no one was injured) on Laurel Road adjacent to the ball fields. Although I do not know the particulars, I would imagine it involved road rage brought on by navigating a dangerous driving situation. People living in the development South of the intersection of Laurel Road and the ballfield entrance continually provide hair-raising tales of racing on Laurel Road and the extreme difficulty they have exiting the complex because of the traffic.
This Thursday, March 31, 2022, the City will be discussing its strategic plan objectives. Attending this meeting and voicing your concerns would be a substantial step forward in widening Laurel Road to four lanes. We would have to do it by eminent domain, in my perception. The person who owns the land obviously has privilege. Consequently, City Hall has allowed the embarrassment to fester and, in my opinion, will enable it to continue in its current state if the community does not take proactive action.
The meeting will be at the City of Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O’Hara Av, Oakley, again this Thursday, March 31, 2022, starting at 6:30 PM.
George Fuller, MPA, MA
Councilmember - City of Oakley, CA
