Caltrans completes Fishhook improvement project

UPDATE: 4:03 P.M. 6/1/16

If you’ve driven in Santa Cruz there’s a place that drivers love to hate. The infamous “Fishhook,” interchange connects Highway 1 to Highway 17 and Wednesday Caltrans unveiled some much anticipated improvements that are supposed to make things much safer for drivers.

It’s not hard to see how the sharp turn got its name, “Fishhook,” or why so many drivers experience anxiety when they have to travel on it.

“Oh gosh, driving on the Fishhook for me is scary especially in the times that I have to come back on it. There’s a lot of traffic. It’s pretty terrifying,” said Santa Cruz resident, Danette Martinez.

Cars turning onto southbound 17 go about 20 mph and have to merge with traffic going 60 mph or faster.

Martinez said, “I have almost been hit a few times because people coming off the 17 aren’t aware or don’t slow down enough to let others come in.”

That’s what triggered Caltrans to do the $1.2 million improvement project.

“On both sides, the Highway 17 side and the southbound Highway 1 side, we widened the shoulders approximately 5 to 10 feet depending on where you are in the alignment both before and after the fishhook structure and we repaved and re-striped all the lanes,” said Caltrans engineer, Katie Beach.

By widening the shoulder Caltrans was able to add another lane giving drivers 1,000 more feet before having to merge which they say will help avoid accidents. Before the improvements were made, traffic accidents around the Fishhook were pretty common according to California Highway Patrol.

“We all know that with the slow traffic during the summer months and weekends it gets pretty hairy, there’s a lot of side swipe accidents rear end accidents things that we are hoping to now avoid,” said CHP Officer, Trista Drake.

There’s also new concrete barriers with crash cushion just in case, but CHP said since the project wrapped up in May, they haven’t received any calls.

“Huge difference. I haven’t seen any accidents since then and I haven’t been as afraid too. It’s easier to merge right on to ocean,” said Martinez.

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The Fishhook, one of the most dangerous intersections in Santa Cruz County, should be safer for drivers thanks to a just-completed Caltrans improvement project.

KION’s Brandon Castillo has details on the 1.2 million dollar project tonight at 5:00 p.m..