California drivers warned to ‘stay far away’ from major Bay Area freeway

Sections of Highway 101 in San Francisco will fully close on weekends over the next two months — with transportation officials warning drivers to “stay far away.”

The California Department of Transportation has been performing repaving work along about 2 miles of the busy highway running between Cesar Chavez Street and the Mission District.

The highway’s northbound lanes will be completely closed to traffic from Sept. 4-7, which is Labor Day weekend, as well as the weekend of Sept. 18-21, according to the department.

The next month, Highway 101’s southbound lanes are set to close for 55 hours starting Friday, Oct. 2, and then again on Saturday, Oct. 17, SFGate reported.

“We’re making sure folks stay far away,” a department spokesperson said. “We want to make sure folks know in advance to plan early and, if possible, to use public transportation.”

During the September closures, a detour has been set up for drivers to exit the highway at Cesar Chavez Street and travel on Potrero Avenue through the Mission District toward downtown.

The transportation agency told SFGate that local businesses and residents in the area are aware of the potential increased traffic on Portrero Avenue.

Another alternative is for drivers to take Interstate 280 toward the Bay Bridge.

Despite heavy travel expected during the holiday weekend, transportation officials said those dates are still the most optimal time for the work.

“The pavement is very weather dependent, and since it’s still summer, moisture and rain cannot be in this work. This gives the crew a wonderful stretch of time to make sure it’s safe and cured properly,” the department said.

Infrastructural improvements to this part of US 101 have been ongoing since fall last year, according to the department. Most recently, crews just finished installing a drainage system to prevent flooding.

The whole project is expected to last until 2028. Workers are also planning upgrades to the stretch of the highway south of Cesar Chavez Street, all the way to the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area.

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