Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County to reopen after 24-hour closure to demolish overcrossing
CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Caltrans District 5 staff announced they're on schedule to reopen Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County around 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The 24-hour closure was to demolish an overcrossing at Capitola Avenue. The initial closure extended from Bay Avenue and Porter to State Park Avenue.
VIDEO: Highway 1 Bridge Demolition at Capitola Avenue. Progress this evening. Detour continues via Soquel Drive from Hwy. 1 at Bay/Porter-Park Avenue.@CaltransHQ @CHPscrz @PIOJimShivers https://t.co/65YTP3Aacq pic.twitter.com/c0jOP10tQZ
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) April 7, 2024
The demolition work was able to take place after weeks and weeks of delays due to the weather.
It'll be a much different sight for people traveling on Highway 1 in the area now, as the overcrossing is now gone.
Highway 1 closure in Santa Cruz County delayed due to possible wet weather
The Capitola Avenue overcrossing will be demolished but it will have to wait a couple of weeks.
Caltrans and Santa Cruz County announced the full closure that would be taking place on Highway 1 between Bay Avenue and Porter Street/Park Avenue will be getting postponed to April 6.
A Caltrans spokesperson said that the postponement is due to possible wet weather that is scheduled to take place on Friday.
The closure is now scheduled to take place on April 6 at 7 p.m. and will last until April 7 at 7 p.m.
Crews will be demolishing the old overcrossing which will be replaced by a new overcrossing that will expand pedestrian access.
Capitola Avenue overcrossing to get demolished on March 23
An overcrossing in Santa Cruz County is set to be demolished this weekend as part of the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lane project.
The Capitola Avenue overcrossing will be closed starting at 9 a.m. on Monday morning to all vehicle traffic. A detour will be in place on Bay Avenue and Porter Street.
Caltrans said that they will have a 24 hour closure in place starting on Saturday March 23rd at 7 p.m. through March 24th as they demolish the old overcrossing depending on weather conditions.
The full closure will take place on Highway 1 between Bay Avenue and Porter Street and Park Avenue.
A new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing at Mar Vista Drive will replace the old overcrossing at Capitola Avenue.
One of the project's goals is to reduce the amount of drivers who use local streets and neighborhoods as shortcuts for traffic.
Caltrans said people who live in the area or commute in Santa Cruz County will feel an impact.
"These are the neighborhoods that are most direclty impacted with the detours," Kevin Drabinski who is the public information officer for Caltrans said. "And this is happening in their backyards for tens of thousands of people."
The closure is expected to last 14 months according to Caltrans. The overcrossing is expected to open in Summer or Fall 2024.
