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Starting tonight at 9 p.m, brace yourselves for traffic as the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 in Contra Costa County will be closed from Highway 4 in Hercules to Cummings Skyway in Crockett for a week-long repaving project, according to KTVU. This closure is just the beginning of a series of planned disruptions that will last for seven weeks as part of a major road repair operation.
The extensive construction work is expected to cause considerable inconvenience for commuters, locals, and travelers alike, who must now familiarize themselves with a network of detours to keep traffic moving. To navigate the eastbound I-80 closures effectively, drivers can exit onto Highway 4 in Hercules, continue on eastbound Highway 4 to northbound 680, and then cross the Benicia Bridge. After staying on 680, they can re-enter eastbound 80 at Fairfield. For those seeking to reach Vallejo, the journey will involve taking Highway 4 east to 680 and circling around to go west on 780. If you're heading to Crockett, the Cummings Skyway remains open, KTVU reports.
Caltrans, California’s state transportation authority, has disclosed that full highway closures on I-80 will occur on four separate weekends between mid-July 2023 and early September 2023. During this time, major pavement repair work will be carried out on both eastbound and westbound I-80 in Contra Costa County. However, it's worth noting that all work is dependent on weather conditions and other factors.
Following the initial closure, subsequent shutdowns on eastbound I-80 are slated for the weekends of August 4 and August 18. Again, the closure will start on Fridays at 9 p.m. and last until the following Mondays at 5 a.m. according to Caltrans. Meanwhile, a longer 104-hour closure on westbound I-80 is tentatively set for Labor Day weekend, from August 31 until September 5. This shutdown will affect the section between I-780 in Vallejo and State Route 4 in Hercules.
Due to decades of heavy use, the concrete on I-80 has worn considerably and thus requires significant repair. By carrying out these full weekend and holiday closures now, they can shorten the life of the project by nine months, providing better road conditions and improved safety to drivers.
Consequently, while this ambitious road repair project is underway, both locals and visitors need to opt for alternate routes and be prepared for disrupted travel. San Francisco Airport (SFO) has already alerted travelers heading to or coming from popular destinations like Davis, Sacramento, Tahoe, or Truckee, urging them to plan for additional travel time due to the freeway closures and detours.
