2021-06-06-101-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. Express 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 June 6th

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 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 paving in the freeway median

crews paving in the freeway median

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.

In the coming weeks (Week of June 6th – Week of June 20th), 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; asphalt/concrete demolition and grinding; and roadway excavation. 

Construction crews installing guardrail in the shoulder

crews installing guardrail in the 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, connect auxiliary lanes to create a new lane, and replace freeway signage.

In the coming weeks (Week of June 6th – Week of June 20th), work in the shoulder may include the installation of permanent roadway signs on northbound U.S. 101, concrete barriers around the overpass foundations at U.S. 101/East Hillsdale Boulevard and U.S. 101/3rd 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 and vegetation control work.

Construction crews milling pavement in the freeway lanes, to prepare for new pavement

crews milling pavement in the freeway lanes, to prepare for new pavement

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

Freeway 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 reopen on June 15th, Caltrans will monitor the flow of traffic and adjust closure times as necessary.

Construction crews implementing a ramp closure

2021-05-21 crews preparing a ramp closure

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. 

Construction crews implementing one-way traffic control on city streets adjacent to the freeway

implementing one-way traffic control on city streets adjacent to the freeway

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 Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, San Bruno, and South San Francisco. 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.

This week, construction crews will also be installing new traffic stop signs on Bayshore Boulevard. 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 June 6th (between Sunday night and Friday morning), in/near the cities of Belmont and San Mateo. Changeable message signs near the ramps will have exact closure times and locations.

  • Eastbound/Westbound Ralston Avenue, Southbound U.S. 101 On/Off-Ramp
  • Eastbound East Hillsdale Boulevard, Southbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Eastbound Route 92, Southbound U.S. 101 Connector 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.