‘Novato Narrows’ on 101 will stay narrow for now
Q This may not qualify as an area of interest to you, though you let people ramble on about the horror of calling freeways “The 101,” when we all know that such usage is illegal, immoral, fattening and wicked. And you regularly discuss routes to Los Angeles.
But Highway 101 north from Novato is a construction horror show: Four lanes into three into two, then three, then two, then three lanes, with sporadic construction. It should be obvious that the four lanes of 101 in San Rafael should continue to Santa Rosa, to relieve the misery of 101 through Novato and Petaluma.
What is the status of 101 from Novato to Santa Rosa and will construction ever be done? John Joss Los Altos
A More than half of the 17-mile, $709 million widening has been completed, but there’s no promise when the roughly $250 million needed to finish it off will be allocated. Up next is the three-mile widening of 101 south of Petaluma now underway.
Q I am a little peeved. You get a question about the Fremont Avenue-Loyola Corners bridge in Los Altos, and answer it right away. I have been asking you about the Foothill/280 mess. This area is way more dangerous than Loyola Corners, and really needs attention. Please, please can you help? Lesley Reid Los Altos
A This has been a mess for years as drivers from Highway 85, Interstate 280 and Foothill Expressway all converge into a single-lane ramp. If Santa Clara County voters approve the proposed sales tax increase on the November ballot, this will likely be among the first interchanges to be upgraded. Design work is already done on building a northbound ramp from 280 directly to Foothill.
Q What might it take to get a couple of knocked-over freeway signs propped back up at I-280 and Foothill Expressway? They’ve been down forever. I reported them to Caltrans a year ago. Robin Melnick Cupertino
A The signs could be back up in a few days.
Q There is a segment of Component Drive between North First Street and Orchard Parkway in San Jose marked with “Private Road” signs. It looks like any other public street, complete with sidewalks, power lines, hydrants and utilities. Now that a certain large company with a name bearing fruit owns land on both sides of this road and has begun construction, do they (or whoever else owns this road) have the right to deny public access? I walk this road nearly every day and would hate to lose my favorite route. Kurt Sims
A Component Drive will remain a private street with the proposed private development. When permits are filed, the city will review plans and possibly allow public pedestrian access.