District: 4 - Oakland
Contact: Jeff Weiss
jeffrey.weiss@dot.ca.gov
Phone: (510) 715-8770
Caltrans Begins Pile Driving along Hwy 101 in Petaluma
Work starts Monday, June 22 at Lynch Creek and Washington Creek Bridges
PETALUMA – Caltrans will begin daytime pile-driving on Monday, June 22, 2020, along Highway 101 in Petaluma at the Lynch Creek and Washington Creek bridges. Work will continue for about three weeks. Aside from noise, the pile driving will have no impact on freeway traffic.
Although classified as bridges, the freeway barely rises as it passes over the creeks, and many motorists may not realize that they have been driving upon a bridge. Regardless, the highway must be held aloft by piles rather than compacted dirt in these locations.
Washington Creek flows under the highway just several yards north of the E. Washington overpass. Lynch Creek crosses the highway less than a mile north - with Lynch Creek recreational trail following along the creek banks.
The piles will support a new carpool lane – one in each direction – that are being built as part of the Petaluma Widening project, which is part of the larger Marin-Sonoma Narrows project.
Cyclists and pedestrians traveling along the Lynch Creek Trail should prepare for loud noise in the proximity of the freeway. Also, Caltrans will close the path for several minutes when a construction crane lifts piles over the pathway.
Caltrans has partnered with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority and the City of Petaluma to add a carpool lane in each direction of Highway 101 in Petaluma between Lakeville Highway (Route 116) and Corona Road. Upon completion, Highway 101 will be three lanes in each direction, including new northbound and southbound carpool lanes.
Soundwalls will be added in many locations. Caltrans will also construct a new undercrossing for the future Rainier Avenue, which is being designed by the City of Petaluma, and two bridges will be replaced which will elevate the highway over the SMART railroad tracks.
Ghilotti Construction is the contractor on the $78 million project.
The Petaluma project is part of the larger Marin-Sonoma Narrows (MSN) project, a series of 13 projects to widen Highway 101 by adding a carpool lane in each direction. The Marin-Sonoma Narrows project extends 16-miles from State Route 37 in Marin County to Corona Road in Petaluma.
The current project is the final MSN project in Sonoma County. The two remaining MSN projects, both in Marin County, will begin when funding becomes available.
For more information on this project go to http://bit.ly/101wideningpetaluma
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