Route 17 Improvements Project

Field Activity Report

Project Overview

These improvements will address traffic congestion on Route 17 between Route 85 in Los Gatos and Interstate 280 in San Jose.

Project Objective:

To ease traffic congestion and improve safety on Route 17.

Project Features:

• Extend the southbound San Tomas Expressway auxiliary lane between Winchester Boulevard and White Oaks Road, providing more room for traffic entering southbound Route 17
• Restripe lanes from southbound I-280 to southbound Route 17 to improve traffic entering southbound Route 17
• Add northbound auxiliary lanes between Route 85 and Hamilton Avenue, providing more room for traffic merging onto and off Route 17
• Modify the off-ramp from southbound Route 17 to Hamilton Avenue to improve operations
• Add northbound auxiliary lanes between Camden Avenue and Hamilton Avenue, providing more room for traffic merging onto and off Route 17
  

Maintenance of Traffic Flow

For the safety of the public and construction workers, traffic control measures (such as temporary lane closures and detours) will be used when needed. Contractors will make every effort to maintain access and minimize disruptions.

Operations

Upon completion, Caltrans will operate and maintain the newly improved highway.

Capital Cost/Project Funding

$28.2 million from 1996 Measure B funding.

Project Schedule:

San Tomas Expressway improvements
Project completed: March 2001

Merging lanes between southbound I-280 and southbound Route 17
Project completed: September 2001

Northbound Auxiliary Lanes between Route 85 and Camden Avenue
Project completed: June 2002

Hamilton Avenue off-ramp improvements
Project completed: November 2002

Northbound Auxiliary Lane from Camden Avenue to Hamilton Avenue
Construction begins: Mid 2005
Project complete: Late 2006

Highway Landscaping Project
Construction begins: Late 2006
Project complete: Late 2007

Three year planting establishment period thought late 2009.

How to Reach Us:

For more information on the highway projects or existing bus and rail transit service, call VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, TDD only (408) 321-2330.