2021-05-16-101-express-update

 Caltrans is constructing express lanes on U.S. 101 from the San Mateo County/Santa Clara County Line to I-380 in South San Francisco. Lanes are expected to open from the San Mateo County/Santa Clara County Line to Redwood City in late-2021 and from Redwood City to I-380 in late-2022.

Construction Update – Week of May 16th 

This week, construction activities on U.S. 101 from San Antonio Road (in Palo Alto) to Whipple Avenue (in Redwood City) will involve work in the median, shoulders, and city streets and include installing tolling equipment, barriers, overhead sign foundations, and lighting; landscaping and erosion control work; and concrete and barrier demolition for the new express lanes. Construction activities on U.S. 101 from Whipple Avenue to I-380 (in South San Francisco) will include work in the median, shoulders, freeway lanes, ramps, and city streets. Construction activities may occur during the day or night, and construction-related noise (e.g. backup alarms, hammering, etc.) should be anticipated. 

Construction crews installing rebar in the median to construct new barrier

2021-05-14 Construction crews installing rebar


Median: Construction crews are working in the freeway median (inside) to install new express lane signage, lighting, and tolling equipment; reconstruct a taller barrier; and more.

In the coming weeks (Week of May 16th – Week of May 30th), work in the median will include installing overhead lighting, sign foundations, new permanent concrete barrier, and electrical systems; reconfiguring and saw cutting concrete for stormwater drainage systems to create space for the new express lanes; grading and paving new freeway surface; barrier and asphalt/concrete demolition and grinding; and roadway excavation.

Construction crews demolishing an old concrete barrier in the shoulder of the East Hillsdale Boulevard underpass

2021-05-14 crews demolishing an old concrete barrier

Shoulders: Construction crews are working in the freeway shoulders (outside edge) to remove vegetation, restore existing auxiliary lanes and connect auxiliary lanes to create a new lane, and replace freeway signs.

In the coming weeks (Week of May 16th – Week of May 30th), work in the shoulder will include the installation of concrete barriers around the overpass foundations at East Hillsdale Boulevard and 3rd Avenue, steel plates to cover foundations on the freeway side of the sound wall adjacent to Bayshore Boulevard, guardrails for freeway safety, electrical boxes to support lighting and tolling infrastructure for the future express lanes; and erosion control as well as vegetation control work.

Construction crews removing an overhead sign above freeway lanes

2021-05-14 Construction crews removing an overhead sign

Freeway Lanes: Construction crews are working in the freeway lanes to repave and restripe the roadway, to replace overhead signs, and to install detectors for monitoring traffic flow.

Lane closures will be implemented for the safety of crews and nearby travelers during construction activities. See Freeway Lane Closures below for more information.

Construction crews paving new roadway surface adjacent to an off-ramp

2021-05-14 crews paving new roadway surface

Ramps: Construction crews are working on freeway ramps to accommodate new express lane infrastructure. Ramp closures are typically implemented to facilitate work on or adjacent to freeway ramps. See Freeway Ramp Closures below for more information. 

The section of sound wall on Bayshore Boulevard from Newbridge Avenue to just past Dakota Avenue in the City of San Mateo

2021-05-14 sound wall on Bayshore Boulevard

City Streets: Project crews continue to work on city streets to connect the new express lanes infrastructure to the existing PG&E and AT&T grids.

This week, work to connect power to overhead signs and freeway lighting may occur on streets in the cities of San Bruno and San Mateo. Nearby residents and travelers can expect to see crews from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This work will produce intermittent low vibrations and construction vehicle noise, and will also require temporary lane closures (one-way traffic). Cones and flaggers will safely direct traffic around closures. This work will also include PG&E installing new service locations and meters on city streets adjacent to the freeway. 

During the week of May 23rd, construction crews will install steel plates to cover foundations adjacent to the sound wall on Bayshore Boulevard. This work will require temporary lane closures (one-way traffic) on Bayshore Boulevard between the hours 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Cones and flaggers will safely direct traffic around closures. This work is anticipated to take one day. 

Note: The section of Bayshore Boulevard between Rogell Avenue and East Poplar Avenue in the City of San Mateo is temporarily striped, and permanent striping will occur as soon as possible. 

Nighttime Freeway Lane Closures: Nightly freeway lane closures may occur on northbound and southbound U.S. 101 from 8:00 PM to 6:30 AM, Sunday night to Friday morning. Due to low traffic volumes, project-related traffic delays are anticipated to be minimal. Caltrans continues to monitor the flow of traffic and make adjustments, as necessary.

Nighttime Freeway Ramp Closures: Temporary ramp closures in both the northbound and southbound directions of the freeway may occur during the night. However, consecutive interchanges for northbound and southbound ramps will not be closed at the same time.

Short-term nighttime ramp closures may occur at the following locations (listed from south to north) during the week of May 16th (between Sunday night and Friday morning), in/near the cities of Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, and South San Francisco. Changeable message signs near the ramps will have exact closure times and locations.

  • Eastbound Marsh Road, Southbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Eastbound/Westbound Holly Street, Northbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Northbound U.S. 101, Westbound Holly Street Off-ramp
  • Southbound U.S. 101, Eastbound Holly Street Off-Ramp
  • Westbound Holly Street, Southbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Poplar Avenue, Southbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Peninsula Avenue, Northbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Eastbound/Westbound Broadway and Old Bayshore, Southbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Northbound SFO, Northbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Northbound U.S. 101, Eastbound I-380 Connector Ramp
  • Produce Avenue/Airport Boulevard, Southbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp

Nighttime ramp closures:

  • Will be displayed on changeable message signs within the construction zone
  • Will begin after 7:00 PM and reopen by 6:00 AM
  • Will have detour signs posted

All construction activities are subject to change without notice.

For questions during construction, contact the Caltrans Public Information Officer:    

Alejandro Lopez at (510) 385-6856 or 101express@dot.ca.gov. 

Visit our website at 101express.com for more information about the project. Follow us on Twitter @CaltransD4.

If you would like a copy of a prior construction update, please email 101express@dot.ca.gov.