Now that they added another tunnel this is a good commute route. So much better than using old Tunnel Road. I heard it's a very scenic drive, but it it's a slower drive. We use this route going to and from Oakland and it's a good route. Especially when the other freeway is backed up. read more

Yes, I review bridges and tunnels on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/collection/abcC5X49U7tk5Zl1kqfzEw The Caldecott Tunnel runs east-west between north Oakland/south Berkeley and Orinda. I've traveled through it mainly to get between Oakland and Walnut Creek. This tunnel is part of California State Route 24. The tunnel consists of four "bores," or individual tubes/tunnels, each with two lanes. Two bores go east and two bores go west. Eight lanes total. Approaching the tunnel on the highway from either direction, solid white lines separate two lanes on either side before entering a bore. The lane pairs then merge after exiting the tunnel. The tunnel goes underneath sparsely-populated, tree-covered hills for roughly 0.7 miles. We've never had any issues with this tunnel. It's adequately lit and traffic has always flowed fine. I've never been stuck in a traffic jam in or around the tunnel. During our most recent trip through, my sister pointed out that the westbound bores are newer and nicer than the eastbound bores. I looked it up and she was right. The westbound bores opened in 1964 and 2013 and the eastbound bores opened in 1937. My sister has lived in Oakland long enough to remember when this tunnel only operated on three bores. You can see from my photos that the eastbound bores (twin bores) are narrow and boxy. The newest westbound bore is significantly bigger and round. It also has a shoulder and ventilation fans for enhanced safety and emergency use. The older westbound bore has the same boxy look as the original bores. However, its unique feature is it's lined with tile walls; very of the time (1960s). If traveling westbound, the newest bore uses the two right lanes. Enjoy. read more

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You have to like the Caldecott Tunnel, because the alternative is unthinkable. If there were no tunnels thru the Berkeley Hills, then you would need a highway to go up and over. It would probably be like Kirker Pass. Or we can use Hwy 4, I-580, or let's all use San Pablo Dam Road. So nevermind all that crazy talk, we have four tunnels or bores to link Oakland to Orinda. BTW, did you notice most of the negative reviews are before 2013? That's because the 4th bore opened in 2013. That means no more changing direction on the middle tunnel. The maintenance of the tunnels isn't very good. That's why I always try and use the new 4th bore when going westbound. Some of the other tunnels have no lights and the road surface is rough. Some drivers can't seem to handle driving in the dark during the daytime, and drive really slow. The other day, a big rig driver used both lanes in the far right eastbound tunnel. I guess he thought the tunnel was too narrow. You should drive thru the tunnel as fast as you can (legally). There was a deadly tanker truck fire in 1982. Fun Facts? The Caldecott Tunnel is a landmark in the City of Oakland. Weather conditions- You go thru the tunnel, and the weather can drastically change. It can be clear in Orinda, then foggy and cold in Oakland. It can be 70* in Oakland, then it's 15-degrees warmer in Orinda. If you like the Caldecott Tunnel, come to Alameda....we have underwater tunnels. read more

I don't come to this tunnel too often, so I rarely encounter the crazy traffic that goes on here. And when I do, it's usually on a Saturday afternoon and I'm in no real hurry anyhow. So the Caldecott Tunnel is fine by me. Some of the bores here are newer than others. The new ones have ceiling fans and are a bit wider with better lighting. The older ones are more narrow, no fans, and can get pretty dark in the middle. But this tunnel, located on Highway 24, connects Oakland to Orinda, and lots of time you can feel the temperature difference when coming out. Whatever you say about this tunnel, you gotta admit, it's definitely needed!! read more

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The numbered bored tunnels provide for easy passage. At times it gets backed up. Fortunately off commute travel makes for easy trips.

The Caldecott Tunnel, serving as a crucial link and lifeline between the East Bay and East Contra Costa, has seen significant improvements in recent years, easing overall traffic congestion in the area. While accessing the tunnel during peak commute hours can be a bit challenging for both commuters and residents, it efficiently fulfills its purpose of facilitating smoother transportation. For those seeking a more scenic route, I highly recommend the upper road above the tunnel, which offers breathtaking views of the Bay Area from atop the hill and takes you through the picturesque Berkeley forest area with several trails available. However, it's advisable to embark on this route only when time permits, as it significantly extends your travel time going from one end to the other. Overall, the Caldecott Tunnel serves as an essential conduit for transportation while also offering a scenic alternative for those seeking a more leisurely journey... but do drive safe out there :) read more

Caldecott Tunnel - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

So I have this eccentricity where every time I drive through the Caldecott tunnel I sing Spin Doctor's "2 Princes". Really belt it out. Here's the catch though--I didn't know I was doing it. I black out the whole time that I'm in the tunnel and don't snap out of it until I come out the other end, right when I stop singing. I wouldn't even have known i was doing it until my sister pointed it out. We were driving to Berkeley to pick up Schlitz cocktails for the Goldman Family Annual Fourth of July Corn Toss, and she says, "Why do you always sing that 2 Princes song?" And I was like, "What the hell are you talking about? I don't even like that song." And she's like "yeah, you've been doing that for years." Anyway big fan of the fourth bore. I'm hoping that in a decade or two when Miramonte decides the Matador mascot is offensive, they change the team name to the Miramonte Boars as a tip-of-the-cap to this engineering marvel. read more

It's not too exciting to actually traverse the Caldecott Tunnel, though I've made it to be some sort of awesome accomplishment for some reason. Don't try to hold your breath going through this. Especially if there is traffic. Some bores have cray cray looking fans on the ceiling. Hope I never _need_ those in use. Some bores are a bit narrow and there is little to no shoulder. (unless you count the wall) In the end it's an impressive feat of engineering and it's still fun to take "the Caldecott" once in a while. read more

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I estimate I have traveled through these tunnels at least 5,500 times. I appreciate the work and engineering that went into providing a passage through this mountain but it has its problems. Deferred maintenace is cause for some rollercoaster rides through some of the bores. At speeds of +50 MPH can cause your vehicle to become airborne at times. For a lot of drivers on the 24 the sight of the tunnel causes them to slow down to 15 MPH and we have traffic jams that frustrate even the most positive people. Cell service is spotty at best. Driving under 35 MPH and you are sure to drop calls somewhere towards the end of the tunnel heading towards Orinda. A stalled car anywhere in the direction you are heading and you might as well relax and listen to some chill music because you are in the car for some time. Notice to all following a Prius or Subaru anywhere on the 24 or even the planet be prepared to watch hundreds of cars merge in front of them because they need at least 200 yards of distance between them and the car in front of them. These drivers are known as boulders and they frustrate me the most. Although this review turned into a bitch session, I will reiterate my appreciation for a passage through the mountain because going over or around would cause me more frustration than this old man can take. Looking forward to the day I do not have to travel through the Caldecott Tunnel so often. read more

I haven't driven through the Caldecott Tunnel in over 25 years. Back in those days there were only three bores at the time. It has been four bores for about five years or so, which is a good thing for traveling from Oakland to Coco County (short for Contra Costa County) to the cities and towns in the 'burbs and return. I don't drive a car anymore. Last Saturday's trip was to the Concord Senior Center. My daughter picked me up from Alameda and drove while I sat back and enjoy the ride. I always thought of this tunnel as dark and dank...kinda creepy. I should be used to tunnels since I travel through them quite a bit, as in Posey Tube, Webster Street Tube and BART to San Francisco. I was glad that the traffic was flowing and there was no bumper to bumper traffic heading eastbound through the tunnel. On our return trip back to Alameda, traffic heading eastbound to the Caldecott was not moving fast. It was bumper to bumper all the way back slightly to the Broadway Terrace area in Oakland. Ugh! read more

Four lanes go in. Four. Four lanes come out. Four. Four = Four. Why is there bloody traffic every single day? It's not like you choose the wrong lane and you're gonna disappear into the void. I'm glad I don't have to drive everyday through it. Every time I see the traffic back up during rush hours I'm so glad I live on this side of the hills. read more

(This is part of my general review of the transportation systems in The Bay Area) The Caldecott Tunnel is a multi bore tunnel that links the Cities of Oakland and Orinda via Hwy 24. The first two bores opened in 1937. A Third bore was added in the 60's and most recently a 4th bore opened in 2013. With the addition of the 4th bore, directional switching during commute hours ceased. The two original bores carry traffic eastbound, and the two newer ones carry traffic West. The tunnel has been the scene of a major tragedy. In 1982 sometime after midnight a drunk driver hit the side of the tunnel in one of the Westbound lanes creating a chain reaction crash including a gasoline truck. The tunnel acted like a chimney and the resulting inferno killed 7 people and severely damaged the tunnel. The legacy of this crash is all of the warning signs instructing trucks with flammable material to take an alternate route. Aside from that its pretty much just a tunnel. Even in non commute times traffic you can get a backup or slowdown around the approaches. The lanes are a touch narrow as well so caution should be exercised. They are however pretty well lit and visibility is good. During commute time is can slow to hellish so as with any driving in the Bay Area know your alternatives. read more

A blessing once you reach the tunnel; total hell on your way there during rush hour traffic. Twice a day, 5 days out of the week is probably the average amount of time that I spend going through this tunnel. It's not the only way to get to Oakland from my house, but even with the traffic, it's still faster than taking other routes. Some days are better than others... and I mean literally! Mondays and Fridays aren't so bad... Thursdays are hit or miss and Tuesdays and Wednesdays have a tendency to make you wanna gouge your own eyes out sometimes. Yep, I kind of have it down to a science now. I mean I should right? I practically live in this tunnel! This is the price that we pay for living in the Bay Area. We get all of this wonderful traffic on our freeways! Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit... I mean, some freeways are way worse. Look at highway 80, 880, 101, and highway 4. I've had my days commuting to all four and I'm glad to say that I would choose highway 24 over any of those, any day! But I digress... I will admit that the addition of the Fourth Bore has helped to really cut down on the traffic. The Fourth Bore itself is such an upgrade compared to the other three bores. It's so much wider, cleaner, and well lit. I would say that the other three bores could benefit from a similar facelift but then again, I am not about to be sitting in even more traffic over it! I will just make due with what I have. Everyone hates traffic (as do I), but my major complaint is about the idiots who slow ALL THE WAY DOWN right before entering the tunnel for NO apparent reason! Why are you slowing down?! Just keep going at your regular speed! There's more chance of someone causing an accident when they abruptly slow their speed from 70 to 45 than from someone who maintains their speed in my opinion. And I almost ALWAYS have a dummy in front of me who slows down to the granniest of speeds! [End rant]. Some may ask why I don't just take Bart instead? To those who ask; I would suggest that you read Bart's Yelp reviews for the answer. One thing that I do enjoy about driving to the tunnel is the ability to blast my music and sing my lungs out in my car. You can't do that on Bart! Well you "can"... but people will give you the crazy side eye if you do! I get excited to see the the tunnel everyday because it lets me know that I am one step closer to getting to my destination. If you actually read this whole review, give yourself a pat on the back! I applaud you! It is currently 3 am and I'm up writing a Yelp review about a tunnel because I can't sleep! Lol! What am I doing with my life? (Insert emoji here). read more

Let's face it, without the caldecott tunnel a trip from Oakland to Walnut Creek would take about an hour and a half. Traffic can be very heavy oh, but the tunnel do what we need them to do.any problem at the caldecott tunnel is not because of the tunnel, it's because of the number of cars on the road in the San Francisco Bay area. So the caldecott tunnel is a solid four. What would make it a v, i don't think a tunnel can be at 5. read more

I don't understand this tunnel. The directions tell you to merge right or left. Both tunnels go in the same direction. The tunnel to the left is short enough to hold ones breath through it which is a nice feeling read more

I have a Love/Hate thing with the Tunnel. Love when I'm on the four lanes open side. Hate when I'm not. Seriously dude, stop trying to run up from behind and sneak in, umm, cut in front of me, at the very end. I hate that. And usually will bully you behind me. But be happy Jack isn't in the car. He's much less kind than I. read more

I go through this tunnel so many times a week you would think I was insane. I think that the outside of the tunnel looks really cool. The architecture of it is magnificent. The interior on the other hand is something to be desired. I heard that in New York they are constantly cleaning the tunnels going in and out of the city. I know CA doesn't have the money but I swear this thing has been cleaned once in 3 years. Being able to work in the construction industry also affords cool opportunities to explore things that the average civilian wouldn't be able to do. My husband once got a tour of the center of the tunnel. There are rooms and doors all in the middle of the thing. I didn't get to go but I am friends with the guy who could make it possible. Next spot for an Elite Event? That would be cool. Don't forget that you can see the complete stupidity of other people driving when entering the tunnel from either side. At those moments I wished I had a bazooka strapped to the hood of my car. The world would be a much faster place. read more

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I should disclose that I'm not a tunnel expert, but I have been through many in my day and this one in particular like a million times, so I guess I can have a point of view. The Caldecott, especially now with the 4th bore is A-OK! The 4th bore tunnel seemed to take forever to build but they did such a gorgeous job. It's round, symmetrical shape makes it feel a little more modern, the lighting is great and I love the exhaust fans that they have in the ceiling as well as all the emergency exits. Many moons ago when I was going to graduate school in the city and had to trek through the tunnel in reverse commute hours, I would DREAD the 4 lane to 2 lane merge. I would cringe at all the traffic cheaters that would get off the freeway right by the Shakespeare park only to left turn back onto the freeway to cut off the right lane headed to the third bore. And now all of that is just a distant memory because the 4th bore has saved humanity from traffic cheaters...well maybe not everywhere but at least here. While I don't really thing the Caldecott is going to save the world, it's a cool tunnel and I'll give it a 3 star A-OK in my book. read more

I got my first chance to drive through the new 4th Bore today and I was excited!. I was in the Westbound direction and there was no longer any need to apply my "4 Lanes to 2" strategy or deal with the 2nd Bore direction change over. Also gone is the opportunity to drive Westbound in the 2nd Bore. But that's progress. It was a fine ride through the shiny new and nicely lit Tunnel. Electronic signs welcomed my to the 4th Bore, there were also fans overhead, and pull over lane was now available on the right. The traffic transitions were smooth on both ends and just like a roller coaster, I wanted to go back and try it again!. My only concern is the Law of Entropy, where traffic will eventually fill up this long-sought extra capacity. read more

Caldecott Tunnel is one of my favorite transit features in the Bay Area - as Murphy's Law would have it, the congestion is always on the opposite side of where I am - and I just whiz right through! This is a great tunnel - it is a lot better than sending all the traffic over the mountain - could you imagine THAT traffic jam? I understand that a lot of people hate getting stuck in traffic jams here - the bottom line is that people in California lose all grace and generosity when they get into their cars - they see it as a competition and nobody knows how to merge. It's a ZIPPER, people - you take turns. People just get so mean and selfish in their cars! The only better option would be to require that anyone who is commuting between SF and Walnut Creek & environs take BART - that would really reduce the traffic. As a motorcyclist, I just want to say: STOP TAILGATING ME IN THE DAMNED TUNNEL! I am not going to go THROUGH the car in front of me and I am not going to tailgate them either - if we're going 50 mph, it is entirely reasonable for me to leave 2 car lengths between me and the other guy so don't cut me off and jump in front of me, either - you're endangering my life! read more

4 BORES = ? So they just finished the fourth bore. Have I noticed any difference with my commute from Concord to San Leandro? NO. Since I am not going the opposite direction of all the other commuters there has been no difference in my commute. Actually its been taking me longer lately but I can't put that on the tunnel its probably because its dark outside when driving home. When there was only three bores I still had two tunnels each way so adding this fourth bore only helped those commuters heading in the opposite direction. I think its time to start thinking about 6 bores, or am i just getting greedy? read more

SAFETY THIRD Not sure why the tunnel builder didn't start out with four tunnels but luckily in a year or two this will be the final result. The tunnel diggers have been hard at work on the fourth hole and it's coming soon! Though, I think the new bridge will be here first! (That's opening on Labor Day weekend 2013!) The Caldecott Tunnel is a great place to observe drivers that don't know how to merge. If you'd like to see wonderful examples of terrible driving, feel free to drive through the tunnel at various times of the day. It doesn't have to be commuting hours to witness the examplary drivers. Many drivers exit the freeway before the merge and then get back on, passing some of the cars. I don't think they help or hurt the traffic... I have no complaints, though, it's not my style to get off the freeway unless I am actually getting off the freeway. I like merging. I like letting the proper car in to merge with traffic. I do NOT like when another car tries to sneak past us and merge ahead. I especially do not like this if another car lets them in. I'm more likely to make sure that they merge in the proper place. Nobody wants to get near my classic car so this is not hard to do. Please people: left lane, right lane, repeat. Don't cut in the merge line! Gather your patience for the slow traffic days. When traffic's moving, no patience needed. Tunnel driving is a breeze! Don't forget to turn on your headlights!! read more

Caldecott Tunnel - View from above the tunnel with construction for new bore - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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Four stars because it gets me where I need to go and is essentially my lifeline for leaving the blazing heat of Contra Costa County this time of year. What can I say, it's a tunnel. If you're lucky and time it right, you'll have two tunnels available to you. The merges aren't well set up and it can be a nightmare at times. I remember my first ride through the tunnel was on the way from Oakland airport to Walnut Creek for a job interview and the tunnel seemed downright magical. At certain times the fog hovers over the nearby hills, wanting to stretch in to Orinda and try as I might, I've never been able to capture a good photo of that (don't worry, just taking photos as a passenger) Pros: No toll (hey I'm from NY and you're lucky if you can leave your street without a toll plaza), scenic to look at (if you can avoid focusing on the current construction of the much anticipated "fourth bore") and the best feeling in the whole world is going west bound and coming out of the tunnel feeling the cooler air hit your face. Cons: People don't know how to properly merge, naturally it sucks if you're trying to go the direction that only one tunnel is opened in and sometimes, even though I think I've got the schedule nailed down, I'll miss the 2 tunnel option going Westbound. Excited for the 4th bore and it seems to be coming along nicely. Safe Travels.... The Yelp 100 Challenge!!! read more

It's open. I don't know where the state found the money to build both the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge AND the fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel in the same year. But I've done both now, and I'm impressed. I gave the tunnel 3 stars because of the first two tunnels. They might have been fine for the 1930s, but now, they're narrow and not well lit. As for the third, it was built in the 1960s, and it's better. And if you want to play dangerously, you can do like I did when I owned a BMW and see if you can hit 100 when driving toward Oaktown. Now, the 4th bore: impressive! Bigger than the third one. Room to park in an emergency, with phones well marked and well spaced. The fans are outside instead of hidden. I didn't play the radio, so I don't know about radio reception. I know people who get very nervous driving through the Caldecott because it's so narrow, they will have no trouble with the fourth bore. No more squeezing four lanes into two. Smaller traffic backup, if any. Few Caltrans projects were worth their money; 108 south of Sonora was, and this one is too. To end this review: the laborers building this tunnel sure had a boring job. And SF workers who live near Walnut Creek and need to drive to work, many of them pick up two other commuters before the Caldecott so they can cross the Bay Bridge for $2 (was free, grrr), so they end up with carpool tunnel syndrome. Punnerful, punnerful, punnerful . . . read more

One of the old tunnels is dark as crap, narrow and scary. Why am I reviewing tunnels? How dumb. I guess they're okay...for tunnels. 3 stars. read more

The new bore is a HUGE improvement! Only about a zillion years late too. But just in time for this year's Christmas party. Too bad it wasn't ready in time for our last two Christmas parties in the city. Boy, was it fun driving through the Caldecott on a Saturday evening. Although it still managed to beat going across the Bay Bridge. The new tunnel is awesome. I no longer fear for my life driving through the Caldecott. read more

GREAT since the 4th Bore. Drive up top and relax while you watch traffic! read more

Read about it, wasn't a bad experience but the tunnel is definitely long. Seen images of the old one and this ones much better and helps with the flow of traffic. read more

Caldecott Tunnel - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

It's a tunnel, yes, but surprisingly a rather efficient sort of system of keeping traffic moving with two directions sharing three bores through the hillside (at least, until the fourth bore opens and it'll be forever two in each direction). And let the record reflect my check-in wasn't whilst in the car; got to peek behind the scenes at the fourth bore project one evening and watch some of the direction reversals that the CalTrans folks do at least twice each day. read more

Caldecott Tunnel - Quiet night on bores 3 and under-construction 4. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

I practically live in these tunnels. I was almost born in one of the tunnels. I have been in an accident going into one of the shifty tunnels. I have held my breath riding through the tunnels. I have heard numerous stories about these tunnels. I have had several occasions where I could have died within these tunnels. Yesterday, I had a panic attack in the tunnels. During commute time. Bumper to bumper traffic. Complete stop. No sun light in front of you, no sunshine in back of you. Dead middle of the tunnel. The guy in the truck in front of me, flicked his cigarette out his window into the liquid that runs along the gutter. For obvious reasons since I am here writing this review of the tunnels and there isn't world wide coverage on TV of the tunnels exploding.... I am OK. We didn't blow up. read more

Inspired by IVY R. and Eric B.'s reviews, here's mine. The Caldecott and I go way back. I got my driver's license when I was 19, late for a California kid. Just before my sophomore year at Cal my roommate was up from LA. My family lived in Concord. I had never driven through the Caldecott. Melissa shamed/pressured me into doing it. I was terrified that I would hit the sides, but I didn't. In those days there were only two bores and they were/are dark and narrow. Like Eric, Alan and I drive over Grizzly Peak when we go out to Central Contra Costa, which we do a fair amount. I love the view on clear days and nights and my car loves the curves. I almost never go through the Caldecott anymore because it's generally just as fast and much prettier to go over Griz, avoiding backups at the tunnel or the freeways. When the fog is thick we avoid Griz and it's back to going through the tunnel and either through Berkeley or down 24 to 80. I have no problem w/ the 4 lanes into 2 merge dance that happens when there are two lanes open on my side. I have no objection to people merging in front of me during that dance and I expect none when I merge in front of them. It's what needs to be done and I don't understand the competitive petulance that some people seem to feel about it. read more

Ever since they opened Bore 4 of the Caldecott (forgive my failing, fledgling memory but I believe that transpired around 2013?), things are lookin' up my friends. Or should I say, things are lookin' wider and brighter, which is just what I need in a tunnel. Aside from cars catching fire in 2013 and 2015, scaring the utter bajeebus out of the poor, terrified drivers stuck inside (and testing the exhaust fans installed in 1982 after the deadly inferno that occurred that year) the tunnel's been doing pretty good. That's not to say you won't get trapped in the typical rush hour traffic, but the experience itself isn't some rickety, dangerous deathtrap. Much appreciated, tunnel workers. As a frequent flyer (don't worry, I'm not speed racing!) of the Caldecott, I have no complaints. read more

I love how obsessed the Bay Area is with the Caldecott Tunnel. Yes, it's important to traffic, and whenever there's a problem with it, this problem creates problems in other parts of the area's highway system. But really, who cares? I grew up in Southern California, and I will always refer to freeways either by their names or using "the" before the number (as in the 24), but I like the Bay Area better. Actually, that's not true; I like San Francisco better than L.A. Much of the rest of the Bay Area, especially San Jose and the faraway East Bay suburbs, are more annoying than even the parts of L.A. I despise. And one advantage L.A. has over the Bay Area is that if there's a problem on the freeway, you take a different route or use surface streets. Up here, you're basically screwed. One bridge closing jams all the bridges, and it's the same with this damn tunnel. It's kind of fun to drive through. I absolutely love the fact that newscasters refer to its different physical tunnels as "bores." Yes, I realize that's what they technically are, but why the obsession with that word? Why not just refer to them as the Caledcott Tunnels instead? Then use tunnel 1 and 2, kind of like L.A. newscasters say fast lane and slow lane but then use the technical terms (number 2 lane, number 4 lane) for everything else. And I don't want them to bore another, um, bore. If there's too much traffic to and from Walnut Creek, take BART. If you don't like taking BART, don't live in Walnut Creek. The easier you make it for people to live far away from where they work, the more people will move there, and then the problem gets progressively worse. read more

the caldecott tunnel can be a nightmare drive. every saturday northbound (leaving oaktown) i travel here with the thought: " do i fell lucky?" most times, the answer is no and there's a long wait to get back to the contra costa side. during the long slow winding drive to the tunnel, i always see the oakland hills where the horrific fire took place years ago. some vacant spots still remain where the homeowners elected not to rebuild. it's a calming and chilling thought. being caught in traffic didn't seem so bad after all. compare it with being blocked trapped by vehicles in narrow streets in the hills that one couldn't get past. read more

Meh, it's a fast way of getting from the eastern end of the bay, to the western end. The tunnels, called Bores, counted from the south, 1-4. I have yet to go through bore 1. Bore 2, really dirty, cracked, and I'm afraid it's going to collapse - as soon as leave the tunnel (cue action movie sequence). Bore 3 and 4 (the ones heading west) are the cleanest, and brightest, probably also because they're the newest. read more

I love this new tunnel ... it's the one on the far right as you heads towards Oakland from Orinda. No more big backups regularly, even on weekends it used to back way up when 4 lanes went down to just 2. Now with the new tunnel there's no more lane reduction. Note People: TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS IN THE TUNNEL! That's what the sign says as you enter! What do you think happens if there's a power outage as you're driving 60mph in the tunnel with all the other cars and then all of a sudden BLACKOUT! Big crash can happen , so be smart and just turn on your headlights! My car has auto headlights, so they come on when it's dark. Ha ha ha , I like how yelp asks Gender Neutral Restrooms? Gonna stop in the tunnel to go pee? read more

--------Sign: 2 left lanes closed ahead------- Driver: I know, I'll stay here as long as I can in order to get way ahead of this little Honda Fit. Me: Oh, hi jerk what's that you want to get in this lane? Kiss my little Honda Fit's bumper!! I don't want to say hate (it is such a strong word) but this tunnel just makes me think about how imature drivers can be. Get out of that lane, merge and get on with it dammit!!!!! read more

Okay, let's see who can hold their breath the longest!!! No cheating (even tho everybody does). Seriously though, besides the horrific traffic, all of us East Bay-ers looked forward to riding through this tunnel back in our elementary days (you know when schools could afford to take their kids on field trips). Okay, I had to get into the review action on this bay area landmark! Yes, as an adult, traffic a pain in the A$$!!! Fortunately, they are adding on, Hallelujah!! Living in the far-side of the EB, I look forward to passing through the tunnel. Once I'm out, I know I'm almost to the game in Oaktown (Raider, A's or Warriors) or about to get into more traffic on the Bay Bridge to get to SF. Either way, the crisp chill of the vast temperature difference is one I embrace because I know there is fun waiting for me on the other side. read more

Been going through this tunnel since I was a baby. I now drive through with my babies. I hate the traffic that comes with going through the tunnel, when that 4th bore opens up, I'm hoping there won't be as much congestion. Only time will tell. I have tried holding my breath in this tunnel...just to see if I could. No such luck, tunnel is too long for me. Hahaha! Anyway~ isn't there some unwritten rule or real rule about changing lanes in a tunnel? I never change lanes in the tunnel but others do and its scary for me! I mean if you get into an accident, your screwed!! I dunno, but I'm happy to drive through this old tunnel here and there. Sure glad I don't have to do it EVERY day! I hope they NEVER make it a toll tunnel because that would suck! read more

I'm oddly a fan of engineering efforts like bridges and tunnels. I've traveled through the Cadelcott tunnel many times in the last 4 years. Fortunately I've rarely had to go in the commute direction, but I definitely remember what it was like before the fourth bore, especially on weekends - the difference now is night and day. Still, the other tunnels do seem dangerously narrow (maybe because people go too fast), especially in the West bound direction downhill, and you need to be careful changing lanes. It might be nice if there were a pedestrian or bicycle route, but I think that's quite a different problem compared for example to the Bay Bridge. Anyway, I'm glad it's there. Don't take it for granted. read more