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Caltrans will be once again attempting to shut down a portion of southbound Interstate 680 in Pleasanton – this time during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend – after rain impeded on its plans during the last two months.
If the weather doesn’t postpone the project for a third time, the transportation agency will close the I-680 southbound lanes between the I-580/I-680 connector in Pleasanton and Dublin down to Koopman Road in Sunol from next Friday (March 15) at 9 p.m. until the following Monday (March 18) at 4 a.m.
Caltrans stated in a press release that a contractor will replace a portion of the roadway, which is deteriorated, with new pavement in order to “enhance motorist safety while reducing the number of nightly closures needed on the project.”
The transportation agency had previously closed the portion of the freeway back in early November for those same reasons.
Caltrans said that the weekend-long closures allow crews to accomplish the amount of work that otherwise would require approximately 40 nighttime closures.
The closure now set for next weekend was initially planned to take place during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend but it was rescheduled for Presidents Day weekend due to the weather. However, rain was also in the forecast during Presidents Day weekend, which forced the transportation agency to reschedule the highway closure once again.
Caltrans said that if it is again projected to rain during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, then it will reschedule the road work again and notify the public. As of publication time, the closure plans remain intact.
Part of the closure means that southbound Foothill Road and southbound Pleasanton Sunol Road will be closed at Castlewood Drive, just like it was back in November. Motorists on southbound Foothill Road will be able to only turn left onto Castlewood Drive and only turn left again onto Pleasanton Sunol Road to northbound I-680, Caltrans said.
A Caltrans spokesperson previously told the Weekly that the closure in November — which was requested by the city of Pleasanton — proved to be effective in preventing the gridlock that occurred in Pleasanton during an even earlier southbound I-680 closure.
Apart from Pleasanton and Sunol residents, other Bay Area drivers will also have to deal with significant detours.
Motorists going westbound on I-80 from Vacaville and Fairfield will be advised to remain on I-80 to southbound I-880. Those going south on I-680 near the Benicia-Martinez Bridge will have to take I-780 west to the I-80 and then to southbound I-880.
Caltrans also said I-680 southbound drivers in either Concord or Walnut Creek can go on Highway 4 to I-80 to southbound I-880. Those coming southbound on I-680 from Danville can either take westbound I-580 to Highway 238 to southbound I-880 or they can take eastbound I-580 to Highway 84 and hop back on southbound I-680 just south of Calaveras Road near Sunol.
People coming west on I-580 from the Tracy area will have the option to take Highway 84 and get back on southbound I-680 south of Calaveras Road as well.
“Caltrans is aware that the closures will impact the motoring public and measures are being taken to minimize inconvenience,” according to the agency. “Caltrans thanks the motoring public in advance for your patience as we work to improve I-680.”
