State Rte 24, Orinda

Highway 24 is the main freeway people from the Lamorinda and Contra Costa areas use to get into the East Bay and into the city. For this reason and because of there are only three tunnels in the Caldecott. You always have one heading in each direction with the middle tunnel opening to aid rush hour traffic in which ever direction needs it most. However, this means that between the hours of 7 and 10 am and 3 to 7 pm, the traffic on this section of freeway is horrendous. It is so bad that many people try to use the off ramp at Gateway Blvd. to skip ahead. Although this is often successful, you will have to incur the wrath of your fellow commuters. If you are going into northwest Orinda, you might get off at Fishranch Road and the take the back way up, but beware of the fog in late afternoons and early morning that make Wildcat Canyon a deadly road at those times.

At least when you are stuck heading towards the Caldecott, you will have the green Orinda Hills to stare at. Often late in the day, the fog rolls down over them in wonderful display of nature’s serenity. Just what you need after a long day at work.