Welcome to Caltrans District 4
District 4 > I-680 HOV
 

I-680 SOUTHBOUND EXPRESS LANE PROJECT (Widening/Rehabilitation/ HOV/HOT)


What is an "Express" Lane?



accma Click to view video.

An Express Lane, also referred to as a High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lane, is a designated lane motorists driving alone can use if they pay a toll, allowing them to avoid traffic delays in the adjacent regular lanes. HOT lanes usually are combined with High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or carpool) lanes that have enough capacity to handle more vehicles. Toll-paying drivers and toll-free carpools/vanpools share the lane, increasing the number of total vehicles using the HOV/HOT lane.

Buffer


The I-680 Express Lane will be separated from mixed flow traffic by a striped buffer area (see figure above) and will have designated entrances and exit (see figures below).
enterance exit
The I-680 Southbound Express Lane will be operated and administered by the Sunol Smart Carpool Lane Joint Powers Authority (SSCLJPA) made up of the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA), the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. For additional information and toll information see SSCLJPA website at:

http://680expresslane.org/index.html

or MTC's website at:

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/faq.htm.


General Construction Information

The project will be constructed under multiple construction contracts. Construction begins October 2008 and traffic is expected to be on the new Express Lane in 2011. The contracts will continue after that to monitor and maintain the system.

Contract 1 - Roadway

The first contract was awarded to Bay Cities Construction. Construction started in October 2008. This segment is from Grimmer Boulevard (just south of Auto Mall/ Durham Road) to Mission Boulevard (Route 238). The scope includes a new auxiliary lane between Washington Blvd. and Auto Mall Parkway, new retaining walls, widening of existing Mission Blvd. (Route 238) bridge on the southbound side, widening of southbound I-680 to upgrade existing lanes and re-paving of all southbound lanes within the project boundary. In conjunction with the other contracts, the HOV lane will be converted to an Express (HOT/HOV) Lane.

Contract 2 - Roadway

The second contract was delayed due to funding issues. Construction began May 2009. This segment is from Mission Blvd. (Route 238) to Stoneridge Drive . The scope includes new retaining walls, widening of existing Vargas Road bridge on the southbound side, widening of southbound I-680 to upgrade existing lanes from Vargas Road to Mission Boulevard (Route 238) and re-paving of all southbound lanes between Koopman Road and Mission Blvd. (Route 238). In conjunction with the other contracts, the HOV lane will be converted to an Express (HOT/HOV) Lane.

Contract 3 - Roadway

The third contract was delayed due to funding issues. Construction began May 2009. This segment is from Calaveras Boulevard (Route 237) to Grimmer Blvd. The scope includes new auxiliary lanes between Mission Blvd. (Route 262) and Scott Creek Road and between Scott Creek Road and Jacklin Road, new retaining walls, widening of Calaveras Blvd. (Route 237) bridge, Jacklin Road bridge, and three existing bridges on the southbound side, and re-paving of all southbound lanes between north of Scott Creek to Grimmer Blvd. In conjunction with the other contracts, the HOV lane will be converted to an Express (HOT/HOV) Lane.

Contract 4 - Express Lane Implementation

This contract will provide the electronic toll system and signing needed to operate the Express Lane. This will be completed concurrently with the roadway contracts to ensure a successful opening of the system to traffic.


Construction Progress and Traffic Impacts


Near Term (next 3 months)

Between Auto Mall and Mission Boulevard (Route 238):

  • Temporary barriers along the freeway and Mission Boulevard are in place.
  • Replace pavement slabs during nightime closures - work is complete in this segment.
  • Construction of retaining walls between Washington and Auto Mall in progress.
  • Bridge work at Mission Boulevard (Route 238) is complete.
  • Shoulder work between Mission (Route 238) and Automall in progress
  • Construction of retaining walls between Palm and Washington is complete.
  • Median barrier reconstruction between Mission Boulevard (Route 238) to South of Washington in progress.
  • Southbound auxiliary lane from Washington to Auto Mall opened on November 20, 2009.


    • Between Mission Boulevard (Route 238) and Koopman Road:

  • The contract was approved and construction began in May 2009.
  • Temporary barriers along the freeway are in place.
  • Replace pavement slabs during nightime closures began June 2009 and is complete.
  • Construction of retaining walls in progress.
  • Bridge work at Vargas Road in progress. One-way traffic control is taking place.



    • Between Calaveras Boulevard (Route 237) and Auto Mall Parkway:

  • The contract was approved and construction began in May 2009.
  • Temporary barriers along the freeway are in place.
  • Replace pavement slabs during nightime closures began June 2009 and is complete.
  • Construction of retaining walls in progress.
  • Bridge work at Calaveras Boulevard, Jacklin Road and Warren Avenue in progress.
  • Nighttime Closures Planned for I-680/Calaveras Blvd and Jacklin Road Undercrossings – February 2010


    • Expect full lane closures at Calaveras Road (State Route 237) the nights of February 10th through February 16th and a full closure at Jacklin Road the nights of Febuary 15th through Febuary 23th. CMS and advisory signs will be installed per the approved traffic handling plans.

    Also expect closure of East Warren Avenue in both directions at I-680 the nights of Febuary 8th through Febuary 10th from 10p.m. to 5a.m. Traffic will be detoured.