Independence Day is a joyful time to celebrate (and barbecue!) But it’s also a day with lots of traffic disruptions, as local towns close streets for parades and concerts. So be ready!
Drivers across parts of the 925 will want to plan ahead this Saturday, July 4, as Independence Day parades, a major road race, and an evening fireworks display bring street closures to Danville, San Ramon, Orinda, Moraga and more.
The biggest daytime disruptions will be in downtown Danville and central San Ramon, with closures beginning as early as 6 a.m. Meanwhile, Moraga will shut down a key stretch of Moraga Way later that evening for its fireworks safety zone.
Downtown Danville will be closed for much of the morning
Danville’s annual Kiwanis-Danville 4th of July Parade starts at 9 a.m. near San Ramon Valley High School and travels through downtown along Hartz Avenue and San Ramon Valley Boulevard before ending near Town and Country Drive.
The Town says street closures will run from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. More than 100 parade groups are expected to participate, meaning drivers should expect downtown access to be especially limited throughout the morning.
The affected streets include:
- Danville Boulevard between El Cerro Boulevard and Railroad Avenue
- Railroad Avenue between Hartz Avenue and Love Lane
- La Gonda Way between El Cerro Boulevard and Danville Boulevard
- Prospect Avenue between Hartz Avenue and Front Street
- East Linda Mesa Avenue between Hartz Avenue and the Rose Street Parking Lot
- Hartz Avenue between Railroad Avenue and Hartz Way
- San Ramon Valley Boulevard between Hartz Way and Town and Country Drive
- Town and Country Drive between San Ramon Valley Boulevard and the Town and Country parking lot entrance
The Town says drivers moving through the area should use Danville Boulevard north of El Cerro Boulevard or San Ramon Valley Boulevard south of Sycamore Valley Road West. The Danville Town and Country, Danville Livery, and Sycamore Square parking lots are expected to remain open, although nearby parking will likely be limited.
San Ramon roads will close for the Run San Ramon race
San Ramon will begin its July 4 traffic controls even earlier, with road closures scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the annual Run San Ramon 5K and 10K.
The most significant impact will be along Alcosta Boulevard, where all southbound lanes will close between Norris Canyon Road and Bollinger Canyon Road. Camino Ramon will also be fully closed between Norris Canyon Road and Bishop Drive.
Other affected areas include eastbound Norris Canyon Road between Camino Ramon and Alcosta Boulevard, Executive Parkway between the Iron Horse Trail and Bishop Drive, and the BR-15 parking-lot roadway. Some turn lanes near Hospital Drive and Alcosta Boulevard, Norris Canyon Road and Alcosta Boulevard, and Camino Ramon near Norris Canyon Road will also be closed or restricted.
For anyone heading toward City Center, Bishop Ranch, the Iron Horse Trail, or Central Park that morning, it will be worth building in extra time or choosing a different route.
Orinda’s parade will shut down Moraga Way, Orinda Way and a Highway 24 on-ramp
Orinda’s annual Fourth of July Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, with entrants gathering in the East BART lot before traveling from the Theatre District through the Village District and ending just past the Community Center.
Street closures are planned from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. They include:
- The westbound Highway 24 on-ramp on the east side of Camino Pablo
- Moraga Way from Wells Fargo Bank to the Davis Road intersection
- A portion of Santa Maria
- All of Orinda Way
Drivers can still access Highway 24 using the St. Stephen’s Drive ramps. Street parking will not be available along Moraga Way or Orinda Way during the event, although the Orinda BART west parking lot will remain available.
The parade is followed by food trucks, beer booths, a carnival, and live music at the Community Center Park, so congestion around downtown Orinda could last beyond the formal road-closure window.
Concord: Expect downtown restrictions around the parade route
Concord’s July 4 program starts with an 8:15 a.m. Stars & Stripes 5K, followed by a 10 a.m. Independence Day Parade and an evening fireworks event at Mt. Diablo High School.
The parade route begins at Mt. Diablo High School on Grant Street, heads south to Willow Pass Road, loops around Todos Santos Plaza, then turns onto Mount Diablo Street before returning to the high school’s rear entrance via Galindo Street.
That means drivers should expect temporary morning restrictions or closures along Grant Street, Willow Pass Road, Mount Diablo Street, Galindo Street, and the streets immediately surrounding Todos Santos Plaza. There aren’t formal closures like in the other cities yet, though.
Moraga Way will close for fireworks viewing
Moraga’s major closure arrives later in the day.
Police will close Moraga Way between Hardie Drive and Camino Ricardo at approximately 8:45 p.m. for the July 4 fireworks display at Moraga Country Club. The closure includes the adjoining sidewalks and will remain in place until the fireworks program is over.
Town officials are urging residents and visitors to arrive early and plan to remain in the area through the end of the show, since access to the safety zone will be restricted once the closure begins.
