2021-07-04-101-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.

Independence Day Weekend Construction Schedule: In observance of the Independence Day holiday, construction crews will not be working Saturday night (7/3) through Monday night (7/5). Work will resume on Tuesday (7/6).

Construction Update – Week of July 4th

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.

Please note Caltrans has adjusted nighttime working hours in response to increased traffic volumes. See “Adjusted Nighttime Working Hours” below for more details.

Construction crews preparing the freeway surface for paving

Construction crews preparing the freeway surface for paving

Repaving Activities are Underway. Construction crews have begun an effort to repave U.S. 101 in two phases. The first phase has already started and includes rehabilitating the pavement from Broadway in Burlingame to approximately I-380 in South San Francisco. This work will help improve the driving experience on the freeway and increase the lifespan of pavement in this section. To address the roadway’s structure pavement deficiencies that affect the drive quality of the existing roadway surface, this section requires deeper pavement grinding and rebuilding work.

In 2022, crews will move onto the second phase of repaving. During this phase, all lanes between Whipple Avenue (in Redwood City) and I-380 (in South San Francisco) will receive a final layer of asphalt and new paint to provide a uniform ride and appearance.

While repaving efforts are conducted, nearby residents and travelers may notice crews grinding and paving the freeway surface. Construction-related noise such as pavement grinding and back-up alarms from these activities should also be anticipated.

Construction crews paving in the median

Construction crews paving 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 July 4th – Week of July 18th), work in the median may include:

installing overhead lighting, sign foundations, new permanent concrete barriers, electrical systems, and temporary and permanent loop detectors for monitoring traffic volumes;
reconfiguring stormwater drainage systems to create space for the new express lanes;
and grading and paving new freeway surfaces.

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 July 4th – Week of July 18th), work in the shoulder may include:

installing permanent roadway signs on northbound U.S. 101 from Holly Street in San Carlos to Route 92 in San Mateo;
installing electrical boxes to support lighting and tolling infrastructure for the future express lanes from Holly Street in San Carlos to Route 92 in San Mateo; and
installing erosion and vegetation controls, and clearing roadside vegetation on northbound and southbound U.S. 101.

Construction crews working in the freeway lanes to remove an overhead sign in March 2021

Construction crews working in the freeway lanes to remove an overhead sign in March 2021

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 July 4th – Week of July 18th), crews will continue to grind and repave the roadway surface (see Repaving Activities are Underway section above for more details about repaving).

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, Tuesday night to Saturday morning.

Construction crews working at the Millbrae Avenue Off-Ramp

Construction crews working at the Millbrae Avenue Off-Ramp

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 Tuesday 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 implementing a closure on city streets

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 Mateo, and San Bruno. Nearby residents and travelers can expect to see crews from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday 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. PG&E and AT&T service interruptions are not anticipated as part of the Project.

Freeway Ramp Closures: Short-term nighttime ramp closures may occur at the following locations (listed from south to north) during the week of July 4th in/near the cities of San Mateo, Millbrae, San Bruno and South San Francisco. Changeable message signs near the ramps will have exact closure times and locations.

Northbound U.S. 101, Eastbound/Westbound Route 92 Connector Ramp
Southbound U.S. 101, Southbound SFO Off-Ramp
Westbound I-380, Southbound U.S. 101 Connector Ramp
Eastbound I-380, 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

Adjusted Nighttime Working Hours: Caltrans has continued to actively monitor traffic flow throughout the corridor during the Shelter-in-Place order and State reopening associated with COVID-19. In response to increased traffic volumes, construction crews are transitioning back to the original approved nighttime ramp and lane closure hours.

Ramp closures will begin after 8:00 PM and reopen by 6:00 AM, and lane closures may occur from 9:00 PM to 5:30 AM. Variations to this schedule may occur and will be noted in the weekly construction updates.

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.

2021-07-04-101-express-update

Construction Update – Week of July 4th

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

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