In the midst of a sour economy, recent traffic improvements in
and around Gilroy will make it easier for those who can afford to
shop this holiday season to go full steam ahead. Meanwhile, holiday
traffic should run slightly smoother than usual.
In the midst of a sour economy, recent traffic improvements in and around Gilroy will make it easier for those who can afford to shop this holiday season to go full steam ahead. Meanwhile, holiday traffic should run slightly smoother than usual.
The Highway 152/156 flyover that opened in late August will help out-of-town traffic run smoothly while the newly unveiled Camino Arroyo Bridge, which connects the outlets off Leavesley with other big box stores like Wal-Mart, Costco and Target off 10th Street, will give in-town motorists more options, said Don Dey, city traffic engineer.
Heavy traffic is expected either way but Dey suggested shoppers take the new Camino Arroyo shortcut to avoid congestion typical of the Thanksgiving weekend on U.S. 101 between the Leavesley Road and 10th Street exits.
“Drivers can avoid a lot of the rush and do a lot of shopping without having to go back down the freeway or through all the traffic signals on Leavesley and 10th,” he said.
Officer Chris Armstrong of the California Highway Patrol said he expects the usual congestion along 101 but said the new Pacheco Pass flyover should alleviate much of the traffic that tends to back up along highways 152 and 156. Although the CHP will not establish any fixed traffic control posts, Armstrong said the officers will be out in force to keep an eye on the new flyover and along the highways.
More than 5.1 million Californians are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend – the majority of which will travel by car – according to AAA. This represents a 2.3 percent decrease from last year, and the average California family is expected to spend over $600 on Thanksgiving travel. Nationwide, 41 million Americans will travel this weekend by some means.
Caltrain will be operating on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day with 28 trains running between San Francisco and San Jose. Train service will not operate south of San Jose on Thanksgiving. On the day after Thanksgiving – traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year – Caltrain will run a modified Saturday schedule with 38 trains operating between San Francisco and San Jose including two round trips to Gilroy, which leave Gilroy in the morning and return in the evening.
