Pleasant Hill Finishes Storm Drain Upgrades as Brentwood Repairs Begin

Municipal and county public works crews across Contra Costa County are accelerating storm-drain rehabilitation ahead of forecasted El Niño wet weather, while automotive and fire officials across California urge drivers to inspect vehicles exposed to coastal floodwaters. In Central County, Pleasant Hill completed its Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive storm drain upgrades, while in East County Contra Costa County Public Works launched a two-week repair project on Marsh Creek Road in Brentwood and AAA issued statewide guidance for commuters who drove through flooded zones.

Pleasant Hill Completes Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive Drainage Project

In Pleasant Hill, city officials announced that the Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project has reached substantial completion in two flood-prone neighborhoods. Executed under the City's Storm Drain Master Plan, the project rehabilitated aging underground pipes by completing improvements to 2 storm drain lines along Shelly Drive and 3 storm drain lines along Ruth Drive.

City engineers noted that finishing the rehabilitation ahead of the winter rainy season is critical as the region prepares for an anticipated El Niño pattern expected to bring heavier rainfall and localized runoff. Strengthening the 5 neighborhood storm drain lines is designed to reduce street ponding and protect adjacent properties during peak storm events.

Marsh Creek Road Repairs in Brentwood Run November 9 Through November 25

In East Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Public Works Department began storm drain repair work on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the intersection of Bixler Road and Marsh Creek Road in Brentwood. Construction is scheduled to run through Wednesday, November 25, 2026, barring unforeseen weather or operational delays.

Crews are working Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. Temporary lane closures, posted detours, and electronic message boards are in effect at the intersection, and county officials advised motorists to expect delays of up to 20 minutes during working hours, though work is being staged to minimize disruptions during peak commute periods.

AAA and Fire Officials Warn Motorists on Saltwater Corrosion and EV Batteries

Meanwhile, following record high tides that reached 8.4 feet on Newport Beach's Balboa Peninsula and sent seawater across Redondo Beach's International Boardwalk—where one waterfront bar remained open despite costly flood repairs—AAA representatives Kandace Redd and Megan McKernan urged California motorists whose vehicles encountered coastal floodwaters to have them towed for professional inspection before driving.

Redd warned that saltwater residue accelerates undercarriage corrosion, rusting brake components and electrical wiring even after surfaces dry. Both AAA and Huntington Beach firefighters issued specific precautions for electric and hybrid vehicles, e-bikes, and scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries: owners should store batteries in dry, elevated locations above flood levels and never start or charge a water-damaged EV or e-bike, such as an e-bike that ignited on a flooded roadway in Sunset Beach. As Long Beach automotive shop owner Todd Kelm explained, dried salt residue forms a conductive bridge between positive and negative battery terminals that can trigger short circuits, overheating, toxic gas release, or fire hours, days, weeks, or months after a storm.