Hecker Pass Hwy 152 project to begin July 7

Hecker Pass drivers and bicyclists can expect several delays along Highway 152 between Gilroy and Watsonville starting in early July.
Beginning July 7, Caltrans will start a safety improvement project along five portions of Highway 152 in Gilroy between Pine and Watsonville roads.
Improvements will be completed location-by-location, not all projects at once, according to Caltrans District Four Spokesman Bernard Walik.
“We don’t want to restrict the path,” Walik said.
Caltrans will begin construction at its first location at the intersection of Highway 152 and Watsonville Road. Workers plan to construct a left-turn pocket at the intersection of Watsonville Road and Highway 152, along with an additional merging lane. There will be no K-rail, only one-way traffic control via flaggers. Crews will be working off the shoulders on both sides, Walik said. Construction on the second location will begin July 14 just east of Mt. Madonna County Park with 1,500 ft of K-rail and one-way traffic control signals. Both locations will be done by the end of October 2014 with hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Walik said he communicated with stakeholders in the area including CalFire, neighboring wineries and a neighborhood group at Hecker Pass and that Caltrans will be working with to avoid blocking driveways, staking and the replacement of a Fortino Winery sign in the Caltrans right-of-way.
Overall, Highway 152 will be widened at various locations to improve shoulders with the addition of more advisory and warning signs. In addition, retaining walls will be constructed on westbound Highway 152 and improve shoulders and warning signs.
Overall, the project is expected to increase sight distance and safety, according to Caltrans.
For the next three years from April to November, motorists can expect one-way traffic control during daytime hours at the five locations throughout construction conducted behind concrete barrier. Starting in summer 2014, officials will place one-way traffic control east of the Santa Clara County line at post mile 1.3; in summer 2015, at post mile 0.1 and near county park entrance post mile 3.0; in summer 2016, at post mile 1.0 and near county park entrance post mile 3.0, according to a Caltrans press release.
Work will commence through the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
“This project west of the festival and will have minimal impact for people traveling to or from the festival,” Walik said.
Residents or motorists coming from Watsonville can use Highway 129 to 101 or vice-versa as a detour around the construction area, he said.
More information
For more information, visit dot.ca.gov/dist4/152heckerpass/.
• Construction activities between April-November through 2016
• One-way traffic control with signal lights at construction locations
• Minimal construction noise
• Minor delay for cars and bikes
Avoid the delays by using alternate routes. Those heading into Gilroy can use Highway 129 to Highway 101; heading to the coast motorists can use Highway 101 to Highway 129.