Weather

Winter storms cause Bay Area roadway problems

By by Cornell Barnard
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Winter storms continue to cause big problems for Bay Area roadways and several key commute routes.
NOVATO, Calif. (KGO) -- Winter storms continue to cause big problems for Bay Area roadways and several key commute routes.

Frustration keeps growing the longer Highway 37 stays closed to traffic. Officials said water pumps are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week to remove flooding on the highway.
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For now, it's a losing battle. Water from several levee breaks keeps pouring in almost as fast as the water is pumped out and more rain is on the way this week.

PHOTOS: Major winter storms sweep across Bay Area
A man is seen sledding after snow fell on Mount Diablo on Sunday, March 5, 2017.none
Snow in Mount Diablo, Contra Costa County, California, Sunday, March 6, 2017.none
A man and his daughter enjoy snow at the Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County on Monday, March 6, 2017.none
A home in San Jose, Calif. appears submerged under flood waters on Feb. 21, 2017.none
Cars race to get away from the San Joaquin River in Manteca, Calif. on Feb. 20, 2017.none
Los Gatos Creek swells during a storm in the South Bay on Feb. 20, 2017.none
A strong storm prompted the closure of Pacifica Pier in Pacifica, Calif. on Feb. 20, 2017.none
Crews were sent out to secure the area on Paradise Drive near Tiburon, Calif. after another mudslide covered part of the road on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
Crews were sent out to secure the area on Paradise Drive near Tiburon, Calif. after another mudslide covered part of the road on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
A rescue team saves two people from an island in the missing of a rising Coyote Creek in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
A rescue team saves two people from an island in the missing of a rising Coyote Creek in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
Road closures after a tree topples over in the Santa Cruz Mountain area Monday, February 20, 2017none
Residents at mobile home park in Modesto, Calif. use sandbags to prevent flooding from the Tuolumne River on Monday, February 20, 2017.none
Rain splashes the ABC7 News Mount Tam Camera on Feb. 19, 2017.none
PG&E crews work to shore up a mudslide that's threatening power lines in Orinda, Calif. on Feb. 19, 2017.none
Coyote Creek in San Jose, Calif. is seen on the verge of spilling over its banks on Feb. 19, 2017.none
Rain and mud soak Alamo Square Park in San Francisco Monday, February 20, 2017none
Rain and mud soak Alamo Square Park in San Francisco Monday, February 20, 2017none
Rain and mud soak Alamo Square Park in San Francisco Monday, February 20, 2017none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A Good Samaritan pulled a driver from a partially submerged car near Livermore, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 2017.none
A home in San Rafael, Calif. falls victim to a mudslide on Feb. 7, 2017.none
A couple in Felton, Calif. discovered a live goldfish in the floodwaters of their home on Feb. 7, 2017.none
A boy and his dog play in floodwaters in Marin County, Calif. on Feb. 9, 2017.none
Flooding in San Anselmo, Calif., on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.none
A car flips into Uvas Creek near Dublin, Calif. on Feb. 8, 2017.none
Flooding in San Anselmo, Calif., on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.none
Flooding in San Anselmo, Calif., on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.none
An overturned truck is seen after a landslide on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
A landslide is seen on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
A landslide is seen on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
A landslide is seen on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
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A landslide in San Rafael, Calif. took out a two-story home on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Two AC Transit buses were disabled on the Bay Bridge as showers hit the area on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017.none
Flooding takes over Sonoma County on Jan. 11, 2017.none
Flooding in Sonoma County causes citizens to band together.none
Flooding in Sonoma County causes citizens to band together.none
Flooding in Sonoma County causes citizens to band together.none
Manzanita parking lot in Mill Valley, Calif. is seen under water on Jan. 11, 2017.none
A rainbow appears in the Bay Area sky after a massive storm on Jan. 11, 2017.none
A rainbow appears over the floodwaters in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.none
Animals stranded by rising flood water are seen in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday January 11, 2017.none
Residents fleeing from rising flood water are seen in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday January 11, 2017.none
Animals stranded by rising flood water are seen in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday January 11, 2017.none
Flooding has triggered mandatory evacuations in Hollister, California, Wednesday, January 11, 2017.none
A man jumps into flood water in Gurneville, Calif. on Jan. 10, 2017.none
A heritage oak tree fell on a Danville home on Jan. 10, 2017. during a Bay Area storm.none
Part of a road in the Santa Cruz mountains slid away due to a massive storm in the Bay Area on Jan. 10, 2017.none
Police car stranded in San Jose, California, Monday, January 9, 2017.none
ABC7 News van heavily damage in mudslide near Scotts Valley, California, Monday, January 9, 2017.none
First responders arrive to flooded streets in Gilroy, Calif. on Jan. 10, 2017.none
An ABC7 News was crushed in a mudslide on Hwy 17 in Santa Cruz County, California, Monday, January 9, 2017.none
A car was towed away from flood waters in Petaluma on Jan. 8, 2017.none
BART riders climbed up an out-of-commission escalator on Jan. 10, 2017.none
Santa Rosa flooded due to a massive storm drenching the Bay Area on Jan. 8, 2017.none
A tree fell on a car on State Route 17 South near Santa Cruz on Jan. 8, 2017.none
A leaf is seen floating in a puddle on Jan. 7, 2017.none
An ABC7 News viewer captured flood waters passing over a road in Middletown, Calif. on Jan. 8, 2017.none
Flooding is shown in Findley, Calif. on Jan. 8, 2017.none
A downed tree is seen in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Calif. on Sunday January 8, 2017.none
The Napa River is seen on Sunday Jan. 8, 2017.none
A flooded vineyard is seen in Yountville on Sunday Jan. 8, 2017.none
This little guy looks ready for the rain! Share your weather photos using #abc7now.none
Here's a look at the stormy conditions at Lake Berryessa on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
The streets are flooded in Novato, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Share rain photos where you live using #abc7now.none
A man walks down the street with an umbrella in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Share your rain photos using #abc7now.none
An old cypress tree narrowly missed falling on a car during the storm on Sunday, January 8, 2017 in San Francisco.none
A young girl enjoys the big puddles caused by the storm in Sonoma, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
An SUV is seen after crashing on northbound I-880 in West Oakland on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
Water breaches the bank and rises up to the buildings in Corte Madera, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
Water breaches the bank and rises up to the buildings in Corte Madera, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
Slick conditions are believed to be responsible for a rollover accident on Hwy 280 in Daly City, California, Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
A single rain drop appears on a plant.none
Waves are seen crashing in San Francisco on Jan. 7, 2017.none
Crews work to fill a sinkhole ahead of a massive weekend storm in Pacifica, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017.none
A tree was cut down by an arborist in San Ramon, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017 after being deemed unsafe by fire officials.none
A tree was taken down by 50 mph winds in San Ramon, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017. The limbs struck and killed an East Bay Woman.none
A driver was taken into custody after they missed a turn and took out a fire hydrant in Redwood City, Calif. during a big storm on Jan. 7, 2017.none
Fog appears in South San Francisco, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017.none
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Caltrans is hoping to engineer a fix by raising the roadway and installing better drainage, which likely won't be done until February 24.

Connie Johnson commutes from Sonoma to Novato, a drive that's now taking too long. "There's a detour at Atherton Avenue, the back-up is an hour," Johnson said.
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"All this rain is making things crumble down lately," Katrina Patton said.



In Oakland, Patton couldn't believe her eyes. A sinkhole almost swallowed up a BMW on east 27th Street, but luckily the car was towed out just in time. From the street, the hole is only about 6-feet wide, but dangerously deep.


"The man said it's 30 feet down, crazy, shocking," Patton said.

Water from a broken pipe underneath the deep sinkhole was gushing water.
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Winter storms are to blame for the crumbling pavement.
"Once it dries up, we'll be fixing it. This will be a major repair," Oakland resident Wlad Wlassowsky said.

For now, east 27th Street is closed to traffic, indefinitely.

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