Commuters to see delays along Foothill Expressway
Q There is work beginning along Foothill Expressway in Los Altos. What are they doing?
M. Nabor
A The county is widening the Loyola Corners overpass, and this will close one lane in both directions on the expressway. During commute time, delays of 10 minutes or more are expected, so you may want to take another route. The $ 3.4 million job will take about a year.
Dan- the- County- Man says: “Foothill sometimes serves as an overflow route for Interstate 280 traffic headed to or from the Stanford Industrial Park area. Those commuters may want to think twice about using this route during construction activities.”
The overcrossing was built in 1967 and is considered “functionally obsolete.” It will be widened an extra 15 feet on the south side and 23 feet on the north side. One through lane will be added each way with left- turn lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks. They’ll also improve the southbound Foothill off ramp to provide a separate right- turn lane, and add sidewalks and spots for pedestrians to wait at multiple intersections west of the bridge.
Now, onto another expressway.
Q Why is the exit to Lawrence Expressway from north I- 280 being ignored? This can often jam up onto 280. It looks like there is plenty of property available to install another two lanes at this exit.
Dave O’Neill
A I first complained about this before my Roadshow days began two decades ago. Now, you may finally get some relief at this location as part of the work for the Apple Campus II. Consultants are putting final touches on a design to add a second left turn- only lane from the north I- 280 exit ramp onto Stevens Creek Boulevard, for a total of four lanes approaching Stevens Creek. The extra lane will enable some traffic to shift out of the right- hand lane and use the adjacent lane to turn left or go straight. There are also long- range plans to build a direct connection between I280 and Lawrence to bypass Stevens Creek.
Q The barriers are gone and the construction done on southbound I- 880 at Stevens Creek Boulevard, but the fast lane striping is still jutting into the slower lanes. This causes cars to slow, backing up traffic. Can you help? Mark Durand
A Be patient for a few weeks. Final striping hasn’t been completed, and asphalt paving will be done as soon as temperatures are favorable for nighttime work. The final striping should be done next month.
Q So Mr. Roadshow, when will the back road between Fremont Boulevard and Dixon Landing Road open?
Renee Wilson Milpitas
A Late this spring or by early summer, the extension of Fremont Boulevard from its southern end to Dixon Landing should be done.
Q I listen almost every morning to Sal Castaneda on Channel 2 and read the complaint from a reader that he called it “The 101.” But the other day he said 101 three times and multiple other highways without uttering the word “The” in front.
Dan Hendrix San Jose
A Sal, much better!