Los Gatos traffic is about to hit a snag as Caltrans rolls up its sleeves to fix damaged guardrails on State Route 17. Commuters heading northbound will have to tighten their grip on the wheel while one lane near Summit Road shuts down for some much-needed repairs, according to a bulletin from Caltrans released early this morning.

The construction is set to clog the second lane today, running a weekday marathon from 9:30 AM to the crisp hour of 4 PM, and it’s not just a one-day affair, the drill continues into Wednesday and Thursday between the same times from Redwood Estates to Brush Road. Motorists should brace for the impact on their daily route, hunkering down for delays.

Caltrans advises drivers to keep their eyes peeled and slow their roll in the Cone Zone because that extra space between bumpers could be what stands between a smooth cruise and a crunch. Safety is king, and these repairs keep the kingdom intact.

All of this construction tango is at the mercy of the skies because a single gray cloud could play spoilsport for the Caltrans crew's plans. So if fate and the forecast align, the crew will have that #2 lane back in shipshape before you can say "traffic jam." Here's to hoping your commute is as repair-free as that soon-to-be guardrail.