2021-07-11-express-update

Construction Update – Week of July 11th

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 and shoulders 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, PG&E and AT&T service work, 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 crew members and Caltrans staff working together to remove litter from the side of the highway

Express Lane Team Helps clean the Highway: Project crews recently helped beautify U.S. 101 by participating in a Clean California Day of Action.

On July 7th, construction crews joined staff and volunteers to remove litter from the highway, as part of a new initiative by Governor Gavin Newsom. The Clean California initiative aims to beautify the State’s streets and highways while creating jobs for people exiting houselessness, at-risk youth, veterans, formerly incarcerated people, and others.

Click here to read more about the initiative!

Construction crews preparing the freeway surface for paving

Repaving Activities are Underway: Construction crews are repaving U.S. 101 in two phases. The first phase is ongoing 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.

Current Project Work by Roadway Section

Construction crews excavating 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 11th – Week of July 25th), work in the median may include:

• installing overhead lighting, sign foundations, new permanent concrete barriers, electrical systems;splicing and testing fiber optic connections for tolling
• equipment; and
• reconfiguring stormwater drainage systems to create space for the new express lanes.

A new maintenance vehicle pullout area 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 lane and connect auxiliary lanes to create a new lane, and replace freeway signage.

In the coming weeks (Week of July 11th – Week of July 25th), work in the shoulder may include:

• installing permanent roadway signs on northbound U.S. 101 from Holly Street in San Carlos to Broadway in Burlingame; and
• installing erosion and vegetation controls on northbound and southbound U.S. 101. Roadside vegetation will be removed to accommodate this work.

A new variable toll message sign above the northbound U.S. 101 freeway lanes in East Palo Alto

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 11th – Week of July 25th), crews will continue to grind and repave the roadway surface from Broadway in Burlingame to approximately I-380 in South San Francisco (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, Sunday night to Saturday morning.

Construction crews working on the Northbound U.S. 101, 3rd Avenue 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.

No freeway ramp closures are scheduled to occur during the week of July 11th.

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 San Carlos, San Mateo, and San Bruno. Nearby residents and travelers can expect to see crews from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This work may produce intermittent low vibrations and construction vehicle noise, and may 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.

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.

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