MARTINEZ (KRON) — Sideshows are a not-so-hidden secret in rural Martinez, neighbors say.

“The sideshows are always a problem,” said Martinez resident Craig Hutchinson.

The problem is now being exposed and addressed by the Contra Costa County Public Works Department.

Neighbors living near the intersection of Alhambra Valley and Bear Creek Roads say if something wasn’t done — someone could eventually die.

“They always do it in the middle of the night, typically, so you don’t see it until the next morning when you see the skid marks,” Hutchinson said.

The skid marks are hard to miss.

“This is a first of its kind project, not only in Contra Costa County, but I believe in the Bay Area,” said Steve Padilla with public works.

Padilla says his department has installed about 100 raised pavement markers at this troubled intersection.

“What we’re hoping is that these raised markers will make it a deterrent and make it uncomfortable for sideshow participants to come out and do what they do,” he said.

The domes aren’t large, but they’re about six inches wide and an inch and three quarters high.

They won’t stop people from driving over them but they can damage your car.

“As the car is turning, they’re going to hit these raised markers, and it’s going to not make it for a smooth ride,” Padilla said. “These raised markers are going to impede that. And, so we’re hoping that they won’t be able to do what they want to do, the way they want to do it, with these raised markers.”

Padilla says although this is considered a pilot project, it was relatively inexpensive, costing only about $50,000 to add the markers and improve the shoulder lanes as well.

Public works and law enforcement will work together with neighbors to determine the effectiveness of the markers and possibly consider adding more throughout the county in the future.

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