Full Notification

The City of Pleasanton's traffic mitigation plan is designed to coordinate a safe and efficient exit for the more than 70,000 fair-goers expected to attend the Alameda County Fair on Monday, July 4, 2016.

A highlight of the fair agenda on July 4th is a spectacular fireworks display. Parents are encouraged to accompany their under-age minor children to the fair as drop-off and pick-up at a location close to the fair may not be possible.

The Pleasanton Police Department has collaborated with numerous agencies including the California Highway Patrol, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Alameda County Fair, Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority (Wheels buses), and Bay Area Rapid Transit to implement the traffic plan.

This traffic plan was designed to create a more orderly exit from the fairgrounds after the fireworks show. The plan will expedite the flow of traffic and allow emergency vehicles access to the fair if necessary. Fairgoers who are planning to attend the festivities on July 4 should arrive early to secure parking. Those who are not planning to attend the fair are advised to avoid the area to avoid congestion.

The plan is extensive and will involve street and freeway closures as well as alternative bus routes. The first component will prohibit parking on neighborhood streets around the fairgrounds on July 4. Depending on traffic congestion, as early as 3:00 p.m. some streets will be closed, including westbound Bernal Avenue from First Street to Valley Avenue. Pleasanton Avenue at Bernal Avenue will also be closed to vehicular traffic. As fairgrounds parking is monitored, access and parking at the fairgrounds main gate will be very limited. I-680 north and southbound at Bernal Ave. will be closed when fairgrounds parking is at capacity.

Some intersections will only allow traffic in certain directions. For example, eastbound Bernal Avenue at Valley Avenue will only allow turns onto southbound Valley Avenue.

Following the fireworks show, fairgoers can still enjoy many of the activities at the fair, such as carnival rides and concessions, which will remain open until 11:00 p.m. Traffic exiting the fairgrounds will be directed to the freeways according to specific routes, based upon which gate visitors leave:

-- Gate 12: traffic exits on northbound Valley Avenue to Hopyard Road, to I-580
-- Gate 8: traffic exits southbound Valley Avenue to westbound Bernal Avenue to I-680 North
-- Gates 5 & 6: traffic exits eastbound Bernal Avenue to Sunol Boulevard to I-680
-- Gate 9: traffic exits from Rose Avenue to Fair Street to Division/Hopyard Road to I-580
-- Downtown: traffic exits northbound Main Street to Santa Rita Road to I-580, and First Street northbound toward Livermore/I-84
-- Main Gate: traffic exits northbound Pleasanton Ave. to northbound Division to Hopyard Road.

The City of Pleasanton welcomes the many visitors to the fair and reminds them that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in city parks, and all fireworks (except in sanctioned shows as at the fairgrounds) are prohibited in the city.