Paving, electrical project begins this week on Highway 17 stretch

QMy hubby wants me to ask: When is repaving Highway 17 from Camden Avenue to Redwood Estates planned?

— Shirley Cantu

ATo the relief of so many, the time is now. Tonight, Caltrans will begin an electrical and paving project in both directions from Alma College Road in Los Gatos to Summit Road.

This will include paving, striping, improved lighting and traffic systems, and guardrail enhancements.

Work will be done overnight, with intermittent lane closures weekdays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. northbound and 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. southbound. Crews could be out until 10 a.m. on Saturdays. Work is scheduled to be completed by Christmas.

QAbout a year ago, you told me Caltrans would begin rebuilding the worst bottleneck in the South Bay, the Highway 101/Trimble/De La Cruz interchange, “soon.” Apparently not.

This interchange has the longest backups and more wasted time and gas on the afternoon southbound commute than any other, certainly more than the 101/Mathilda interchange, which was a higher priority. What gives?

— Bill Adler, Mountain View

ADepends on what you mean by soon. The design of a new interchange should be done by the end of the year. This is the third-highest ranked interchange project included in the 2016 Measure B sales tax program, after Mathilda and Foothill Expressway at Interstate 280.

This will widen De La Cruz/Trimble Road to six lanes through the interchange, reconstruct the southbound exit loop to a partial cloverleaf, and make it possible to turn south to Highway 87 from the far two right lanes instead of just the farthest right one.

The overpass will include improvements for pedestrians and bicycle users, and reconstruct the intersection of De La Cruz Boulevard with additional through and turning lanes.

The cost will be around $70 million, with $58.5 million already earmarked for the project. Construction could begin in three years once all funding is in place.

QI read your answer about the Interstate 280/Foothill Expressway off-ramp work now underway. Do you know if they will have either a stop sign or signal for the merge onto Foothill from I-280 north, like at El Monte?

I have been writing to Caltrans about this spot for years. I have witnessed countless accidents here, including one in which my husband, daughter and I were almost hit.

Please, please, please tell me there will be some sort of stop here.

— Lesley Reid,

Los Altos

AYes, yes, yes! Caltrans will install a stop sign or signals at the offramp to stop the “free” right-turn traffic from the ramp onto Foothill Expressway. That should happen late this year.