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Caltrans’ newly announced plans to close a portion of southbound Interstate 680 at the end of April will mark the final weekend-long closure for that stretch of the overall project, a spokesperson for the agency said.
The final I-680 southbound lanes closure between the I-580/I-680 connector in Pleasanton and Dublin down to Koopman Road in Sunol is scheduled to take place from Friday, April 26 at 9 p.m. until the following Monday (April 29) at 4 a.m.
“We anticipate that after the April 26-29 weekend closure, there will be no more closures at the south end of the project,” Caltrans spokesperson Janis Mara said.
However, motorists in the San Ramon area should expect more weekend closures in the future as the transportation agency continues to work on the overall southbound I-680 project, which stretches from Sunol to San Ramon.
“We anticipate that the entire project will conclude in 2027,” Mara said. “After the April 26-29 closure, there will be weekend closures in the north end of the project, which is in the vicinity of Alcosta Boulevard in San Ramon.”
In the case of rain, Caltrans said it will reschedule the late-April closure and notify the public but as of publication time, the closure plans remain intact. The northbound lanes of I-680 will once again not be affected.
The transportation agency has been working on that portion of the freeway since last November. According to Caltrans, the work being done there will repair the existing pavement that has deteriorated and will enhance motorist safety.
Mara said that the agency was previously going to schedule the closure from April 12-15, but they decided to push it to the end of the month because there were a number of large events taking place around the Bay Area and there was another major closure scheduled in that timeframe, which would have impacted the public.
“This weekend closure will rehabilitate the pavement an entire year ahead of schedule, giving motorists a smooth ride starting in spring 2024 instead of having to drive on deteriorated pavement until 2025,” according to a Caltrans press release. “It also will accomplish the amount of work that otherwise would require an estimated 40 nighttime closures.”
Caltrans had attempted to fully shut down those southbound lanes during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day long holiday weekends but due to the rain, those were each rescheduled.
However, the transportation agency’s most recent plans to shut down the freeway lanes during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend went on as planned and Mara said it was a successful weekend.
“The closure went very smoothly and the roadway reopened an hour and a half ahead of schedule for a smooth ride for motorists,” Mara said.
Shari Jackman, communications manager for the city of Dublin, also said that despite the I-680 closure, events like the St. Patrick’s Day festival were not affected because all the highways and entrances to Dublin were open.
“At the festival, I spoke with people who came from all over the Bay Area, including the South Bay, who were not dissuaded to travel the highways to get to Dublin,” Jackman said. “Attendance at each of the St. Patrick’s Day events was very high, and everyone seemed to be in very good spirits.”
This final closure for the south portion of the entire project will put the transportation agency one year ahead of schedule, according to the Caltrans press release. After the full weekend closure, work will “continue on southbound I-680 through the year at night under typical lane closures.”
Similar to the St. Patrick’s weekend closure, part of the shutdown next month means southbound Foothill Road and southbound Pleasanton Sunol Road will be closed at Castlewood Drive so that there won’t be a gridlock. 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.
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. Caltrans thanks the motoring public in advance for your patience as we work to improve I-680,” the agency said.
