2021-05-30-101-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 30th

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 on 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 working to remove the old median barrier

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

In the coming weeks (Week of May 30th – Week of June 13th), work in the median may include installing overhead lighting, sign foundations, new permanent concrete barrier, and electrical systems; reconfiguring 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.

Note: Median barrier demolition north of Whipple Avenue is anticipated to be completed this week! This was an important step towards reconfiguring the median barrier to include safety lighting.

Construction crews leveling the ground in the freeway shoulder

Construction crews leveling the ground in the freeway shoulder

Shoulders: Construction crews are working in the freeway shoulders (outside edge) to install electrical infrastructure for the new express lanes, 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 30th – Week of June 13th), work in the shoulder may include the installation of permanent roadway signs on northbound U.S. 101, concrete barriers around the overpass foundations at Southbound U.S. 101/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 and vegetation control work.

Construction crews leveling the ground in the freeway shoulder

Construction crews preparing to install a variable toll message sign (VTMS) over the freeway lanes

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 are implemented for the safety of crews and nearby travelers during construction activities. 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. As California prepares to re-open for business next month, Caltrans will continue to monitor the flow of traffic and make adjustments, as necessary.

Construction crews preparing to install a variable toll message sign (VTMS) over the freeway lanes
Construction crews working adjacent to a freeway off-ramp

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 from 2nd Avenue to Dore Avenue, adjacent to Bayshore Boulevard in the City of San Mateo

The section of sound wall from 2nd Avenue to Dore Avenue, adjacent to Bayshore Boulevard in the City of San Mateo

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 Carlos, 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.

Construction crews will also be installing new stop signs on Bayshore Boulevard this week. This work is anticipated to take one day.

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 30th (between Sunday night and Friday morning), in/near the cities of Redwood City and San Carlos. Changeable message signs near the ramps will have exact closure times and locations.

Eastbound Whipple Avenue, Northbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
Westbound Whipple Avenue, Northbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp (Closures possible starting at 6:00 PM at this location)
Eastbound/Westbound Holly Street, Northbound 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.

2021-05-30-101-express-update

Construction Update – Week of May 30th

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

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