The 40-day closure of U.S. Highway 152 just past the Santa
Clara/Santa Cruz county line has been postponed at least one week,
according to a spokeswoman with the California Department of
Transportation.
By Lori Stuenkel
Gilroy – The 40-day closure of U.S. Highway 152 just past the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz county line has been postponed at least one week, according to a spokeswoman with the California Department of Transportation.
Monday had been the planned start day for the closure, but changes to the project are pushing it back until Monday, Aug. 15, at the earliest.
Hecker Pass Highway, the major route between Gilroy and the coast, will remain closed for 40 calendar days, or until late September. A $1.5 million Caltrans widening project is forcing the closure to expedite construction on about a half-mile stretch of the highway.
The purpose of the project is to improve safety on that portion of the highway by widening existing traffic lanes and shoulders. No new lanes will be added.
Other upgrades include a concrete barrier along the inside of a narrow curve, a new guardrail, and landscaping on what will be a steeper slope of the hillside.
Traffic will be re-routed to Highway 129 south of Gilroy, and signs alerting drivers will be located in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.
Lori Stuenkel covers public safety for the Dispatch. Reach her at 847-7158, or at ls*******@gi************.com.
