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The landslide-damaged section of Highway 84 in Woodside will reopen no later than 8 a.m. on July 31, according to new details shared by Town Council member Ned Fluet about the ongoing repair work.
Fluet said in a July 26 post on PVForum that he attended a meeting earlier that day with Caltrans staff to learn more about the timeline for reopening Highway 84, also known as Woodside Road. The section of the two-lane highway between Foxhill and Portola roads was closed on March 9 due to a landslide that damaged around 250 feet of roadway.
Caltrans announced late last week that the highway will reopen one lane on July 31, with both lanes expected to reopen in October.
Fluet also offered new details about how vehicle flow will be be managed through the one-lane stretch. He wrote that there will be traffic lights controlling the flow of traffic through the landslide-damaged area.
“The lights will be timed and not activated by motion or the presence of vehicles,” Fluet wrote. “In other words, the lights will cycle from red to green regardless of whether someone is at the light.”
Fluet added that push buttons for bicyclists will be installed at the lights, and when activated, will provide riders additional time to get through the area. Caltrans plans to adjust the timing of the lights during the first few days based on the flow of traffic, so Fluet encouraged residents to be patient and cautious as the adjustments are made. He added that California Highway Patrol officers will monitor the area when it first reopens.
Woodside residents have urged Caltrans to reopen the road as quickly as possible, and criticized the state transit authority for its initial lack of communication about the road’s repair. In early June, Caltrans started offering weekly updates about the closure ad the progress of repair work.
As Caltrans prepares to reopen Highway 84, Fluet said it will also continue to work on other improvements between Portola Road and Skyline Boulevard, including new signage, re-striping, trimming foliage, removing debris and repairing drainage.
“Drainage work will continue through the summer and fall and there may be days where various sections of Highway 84 are controlled by flaggers,” Fluet added.
PVForum.us is a private online social network for residents of Portola Valley.
