Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – The County of Marin and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are partnering to reduce construction impacts and streamline utility work in the unincorporated Strawberry area of southern Marin. PG&E’s construction begins on the evening of Sunday, June 28.
The coordinated effort improves long‑term service reliability, modernizes utility infrastructure, and supports future safety and paving improvements along Redwood Highway Frontage Road (Frontage Road). The work includes a PG&E‑managed electrical and gas bore restoration work under U.S. 101 and a County‑managed Rule 20A undergrounding project to remove poles and overhead wires between Belvedere Drive and Seminary Drive.
The removal of overhead poles and wires will open the Frontage Road corridor visually and physically, creating space to enhance sidewalks, bike connections, and overall safety. The electrical bore enables crews to remove the pole at the Belvedere Drive intersection at Frontage Road and eliminate the wires that currently cross over the freeway.
Work in the corridor initially began in January, but the project was delayed by winter storms, unusually high tidal conditions, and high groundwater levels.
Once underway on June 28, PG&E’s construction is expected to last six to eight weeks, with schedules subject to weather and unforeseen conditions. During the bore work, heavy-duty tanks will be staged temporarily along Belvedere Drive, but they will be removed as the demand for them decreases day by day. After PG&E’s work is complete, the County’s Rule 20A contractor will continue undergrounding work for roughly three more weeks, followed by PG&E’s pole‑removal and line‑transfer work over two to three months. Overall, public impacts during these phases are anticipated to remain minimal.
PG&E will perform work at the Belvedere Drive/Frontage Road intersection, on Reed Road and near the Seminary Drive offramp in Mill Valley. Because these locations include key intersections and ramp areas, the most disruptive operations will occur at night, while daytime work between 6 AM and 8 PM will be limited to brief delays of about five minutes. Evening and overnight hours may include short detours and flaggers to maintain safe travel for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
“With PG&E’s planned gas bore originally scheduled soon after our utility undergrounding project, close coordination became essential,” said Rachel Calvert, Senior Civil Engineer with the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW). “By aligning the projects to eliminate duplicative work and complete much of the remaining construction concurrently, we’re reducing costs, preventing repeat disruptions, and delivering important utility upgrades with fewer overall impacts to the public.”
Project updates will be available through the DPW website and social media feeds and PG&E information channels.