Caltrans has announced that a major repaving project will result in weekend closures of the highway for four consecutive weekends starting on Friday night, April 19. The stretch between Highway 29 in Vallejo and the junction with Highway 121 near Sears Point is slated for an overhaul, a decision spurred by the degraded condition of the roadway due to heavy traffic, as reported by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
The construction will kick off with the closure of westbound lanes beginning at 9 p.m. on April 19 and again at 9 p.m. on April 26, with both routes slated to reopen at 4 a.m. the following Monday. Eastbound lanes will get their turn starting at 10 p.m. on May 3 and once more on May 10. These closures will last until 5 a.m. the subsequent Monday. Weather permitting, crews could complete the project within the scheduled time frame, but Caltrans has marked the weekend of May 17-20 as a backup in case delays arise.
Paving over the alternate plan that would have called for more scattered interruptions, Caltrans is delivering some heavy news for night drivers. It is choosing the lesser of two evils with full weekend shutdowns instead of more than 40 brief closures. The decision aims to minimize long-term disruption for the estimated thousands traverse this route daily. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, crews will move approximately "1,000 truckloads of asphalt" to service the 12-mile segment during the revamp.
Travelers and locals alike are advised to plan for delays or seek alternative routes over the next month. Caltrans is bracing for impact, maintaining communications with residents and businesses expected to experience the most immediate inconvenience of the construction zone. The agency, well aware of the potential for disturbance, aims to restore the smooth sail of Highway 37's severed lanes as seamlessly as the asphalt it sets to pour.