Work is underway on a project to construct north and southbound auxiliary lanes and bus-on-shoulder improvements on Highway 1 between the Bay Avenue/Porter Street and State Park Drive interchanges.
This project will also construct a bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing at Mar Vista Drive and replace the existing Capitola Avenue overcrossing.
Closure of the Capitola Avenue Overcrossing
This project will construct a new overcrossing on Highway 1 at Capitola Avenue. The current overcrossing will be closed, prepped for demolition, and torn down during the first phase of this project.
The new overcrossing, expected to open in the Summer/Fall of 2025, will include bike lanes and sidewalk improvements that will help connect neighborhoods, schools, parks, beaches, and commercial centers. In promoting the use of alternative transportation modes, it will also increase transportation system capacity and reliability.
On Monday, March 11, at 9 a.m., crews will close the Capitola Avenue overcrossing at Highway 1 to all vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic and begin preparation for the demolition of the overcrossing. This long-term closure will be in effect for approximately 14 months. A detour will be in place via Bay Avenue/Porter Street and Park Avenue. Message and directional signs will be posted to assist travelers.
24-Hour Closure for Demolition of the Capitola Avenue Overcrossing
From Saturday, March 23 at 7 p.m. through Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m., travelers will encounter a full closure of Highway 1 between Bay Avenue/Porter Street and Park Avenue. Demolition crews will use this 24-hour closure to safely demolish the Capitola Avenue overcrossing and haul materials away.
During this 24-hour closure, travelers on northbound Highway 1 will exit at Park Avenue and travel on Soquel Drive to rejoin the northbound Highway 1 onramp at Bay Avenue/Porter Street. Travelers on southbound Highway 1 will be directed off at Bay Avenue/Porter Street, travel on Soquel Drive and rejoin southbound Highway 1 at the Park Avenue onramp. Highway 1 will fully reopen to travel on Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m.
The date for the demolition of the Capitola Avenue overcrossing and 24-hour closure of Highway 1 is weather dependent. Updates will be provided in advance of March 23.
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is leading the delivery of this project in partnership with Caltrans, the County of Santa Cruz, City of Capitola, and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District. The project is funded by 2016 Measure D funds and other RTC discretionary funds that were used to complete the work necessary to ready the project for construction. Construction of the project is being led by Caltrans and is fully funded through a combination of Measure D and Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Solutions to Congested Corridors and Local Partnership Program grant funds.
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The contractor for this $79 million project is Granite Construction of Watsonville, CA. This project is expected to be completed in 2026.