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2021-06-27-101-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 27th

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 will include installing tolling equipment, and landscaping and erosion control work. 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, and on city streets and will include constructing a new median barrier, repaving the freeway surface, installing permanent roadway signs, and landscaping and erosion control work. Construction activities may occur during the day or night, and construction-related noise (e.g. backup alarms, hammering, etc.) should be anticipated. 

Construction crews grinding the freeway surface to prepare for paving
Construction crews grinding the freeway surface to prepare for paving

Repaving Activities are Underway: To help improve the driving experience on the freeway and to increase the lifespan of pavement in the corridor, construction crews have begun an effort to repave U.S. 101. This work will be done in two sections – from Whipple Avenue in Redwood City to Broadway in Burlingame and from Broadway to approximately I-380 in South San Francisco, in both the northbound and southbound directions.

Repaving from Broadway to I-380 has already begun, and is anticipated to be completed in late summer 2021. Repaving from Whipple Avenue to Broadway will follow, and is anticipated to be complete in late 2022. While repaving efforts are conducted, travelers may see construction crews grinding and repaving the freeway surface. 

Construction crews grinding the freeway surface to prepare for paving

Construction crews placing temporary concrete barrier in the median

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

In the coming weeks (Week of June 27th – Week of July 11th), work in the median may include: 
  installing overhead lighting, sign foundations, new permanent concrete barriers, electrical systems, and permanent loop detectors for monitoring traffic volumes; 
  reconfiguring stormwater drainage systems to create space for the new express lanes; 
  grading, paving new freeway surfaces; and 
  asphalt/concrete demolition and grinding. 

Construction crews paving in the freeway shoulder

Construction crews paving 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 lane and connect auxiliary lanes to create a new lane, and replace freeway signage.

In the coming weeks (Week of June 27th – Week of July 11th), work in the shoulder may include:

  • installing permanent roadway signs on northbound U.S. 101; 
  • installing concrete barriers around the overpass foundations at U.S. 101/3rd Avenue and U.S. 101/Hillsdale Boulevard;
  • installing electrical boxes to support lighting and tolling infrastructure for the future express lanes; and erosion and vegetation controls.

 

Construction crews temporary striping a section of the freeway

Construction crews temporary striping a section of the freeway

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.

In the coming weeks (Week of June 27th – Week of July 11th), work on the freeway lanes may include grinding and repaving of the roadway surface (see information above for more details about the repaving effort). 

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 9:00 PM to 5:30 AM, Sunday night to Friday morning. 

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.

Temporary ramp closures in both the northbound and southbound directions of the freeway may occur during the night, from Sunday night to Friday morning. However, consecutive interchanges for northbound and southbound ramps will not be closed at the same time. See Freeway Ramp Closures below for more information.

Construction crews staging equipment adjacent to a city street

Construction crews staging equipment adjacent to a city street

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 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. 

Freeway Ramp Closures: Short-term nighttime ramp closures may occur at the following locations (listed from south to north) during the week of June 27th in/near the cities of Belmont and San Mateo. Southbound U.S. 101, 

  • Eastbound/Westbound Ralston Avenue, Southbound U.S. 101 On/Off-Ramp (Closures possible starting at 5:00 PM at this location)
  • Southbound U.S. 101, Eastbound/Westbound East Hillsdale Boulevard Off-Ramp
  • Eastbound East Hillsdale, Southbound U.S. 101 On-Ramp
  • Westbound East Hillsdale, 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 8:00 PM and reopen by 6:00 AM, unless otherwise noted above
  • Will have detour signs posted

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.