Navy: Start Delayed for Trucking Boxcar Pieces Off Former Base

There has been a little delay in moving boxcar parts off the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

The design and construction of a temporary intersection and traffic light to bring the trucks onto Willow Pass Road has taken longer than anticipated, Gregg Smith, public affairs officer for Navy Weapons Station Seal Beach, said recently. He added that he anticipates the project will start within two weeks.

The Navy is planning to take apart 343 boxcars at the station and truck them to a Pittsburg facility to be cut up and recycled. is expected to generate six to eight truck trips a day through November during non-commute hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The temporary traffic light will be on Willow Pass Road about 900 yards south of state Route 4.

The signal will give preference to drivers on Willow Pass Road. It will be activated for trucks' entry or exit when the trucks pass over a detector loop, according to a city news release.

During the delay, “we are continuing to do pre-staging work on the railcars so that we can make up for any lost time once the intersection is complete,” Smith said in an email. “Pre-staging activities include removing Navy markings from the cars, sealing doors, etc.”