A Press Democrat Blog

Road Warrior

Trying to make sense out of getting around

U.S. 101 questions and a suggestion

Tuesday, at 12:22 by

Two little questions about things spotted along U.S. 101, and a suggestion about how to ease the pain as construction projects collide in Petaluma. What’s up with the sign? The question: What is with the electronic sign in Rohnert Park on NB 101 that states to turn Radio to 840 AM? It was on for a week, no message is on 840 AM. The answer: Caltrans’ electricians were testing the sign.  In the future Caltrans will use the Highway Advisory Radio for construction… Read More »

Updated: Construction heats up in Petaluma, and other cone zones

Sunday, at 6:23 by

Updated May 6 with road projects throughout Sonoma County. Watch for road closures and detours in Petaluma as work heats up on the Highway 101 widening project. Here’s the latest information about it and other road construction projects throughout the North Coast during the week of May 5-10. Petaluma State Route 116 will be closed Tuesday through Friday while portions of the southbound U.S. 101 bridge are demolished. Hours are 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday nights and… Read More »

Look at what’s ahead for Airport Blvd.

Thursday, at 5:44 by

Real construction work won’t begin until June 3 on the new Airport Boulevard interchange off Highway 101 north of Santa Rosa, but Caltrans has released images of the design and the proposed detours. Take a look at what is planned for the project that will be with us until late 2014, when the newly designed Airport Boulevard exit will include a new five-lane bridge across Highway 101, a sidewalk for pedestrians and Class II bike lanes. The Fulton Road exit… Read More »

This week’s cone zones

Monday, at 6:50 by

Petaluma continues to dominate the Sonoma County road construction activity, with SMART and Caltrans work in addition to ongoing city projects. In Santa Rosa, work begins to replace antiquated sewer and water lines around Montgomery Village, a project that will continue through November. A complete list of Caltrans projects throughout the North Coast follows. Petaluma SMART crews will start replacing the railroad crossing at D Street at 6 a.m. Monday, April 29. The work is expected to be finished by… Read More »

Updated: More about the birds and the trees on U.S. 101

Wednesday, at 6:53 by

Update: Wildlife advocates staged a protest April 26, claiming that state and federal agencies are slow in replacing nets that are killing nesting swallows. Caltrans spokesmen responded by saying that crews have been working double shifts, seven days a week to correct the problem. Read the full story HERE.  Swallows nesting beneath the Petaluma River Bridge appear to be out of danger, according to a Caltrans statement released Tuesday. Caltrans spokesman Robert Haus said that biologists continued to inspect the… Read More »

Mailbag: When do Santa Rosa (and Lake County) get upgrades?

Friday, at 6:01 by

With road work going on around the North Coast, two Road Warrior readers would like to know when it will make their lives easier. Hearn Avenue overpass As I read the Press Democrat story on the widening of the “narrows” section on Highway 101, it would be good to find out why Santa Rosa cannot find money to do the same for the two overpasses over highway 101 south of Highway 12. Both take you back to Santa Rosa Avenue, and having… Read More »

Petaluma highway work begins and other cone zones

Sunday, at 6:18 by

Here’s the latest information about road construction projects and lane closures throughout Sonoma County during the week of April 8-12, with Highway 101 closures in Petaluma, Santa Rosa’s “extra attention” intersection and a roundup of CalTrans projects throughout the North Coast. Petaluma The biggest news this week is the start of a new phase of Highway 101 construction on the Sonoma-Marin Narrows project, which brings evening lane closures between Washington Street and Petaluma Boulevard South as the highway is widened… Read More »

This week’s cone zones

Monday, at 9:18 by

Here’s the latest information about road construction projects and lane closures throughout Sonoma County during the week of April 1-5, courtesy of Rob Silva, roads division manager for Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works. It’s followed by a roundup of CalTrans projects throughout the North Coast: SONOMA COUNTY The Cotati crew will resume work today on the Stony Point Road culvert, replacing the second section of 80 feet. The Bridge crew will continue work this week replacing timber… Read More »

Petaluma roadwork starts tonight at 101/E. Washington

Tuesday, at 11:38 by

Caltrans begins late night roadwork on northbound Highway 101 at the East Washington Street exit tonight, with crews working 11 p.m.-6 a.m. March 26-28 to install a cross-freeway drainage culvert. One lane of northbound traffic will be closed, as well as the northbound off-ramp to East Washington Street, which will be closed 11 p.m.-5 a.m. The work is weather dependent and will be shifted to Friday, March 29 if it is weather delayed, according to Caltrans.

Hey, where’s the bike path?

Tuesday, at 6:52 by

Hey, when are they going to install the bike path next to the (SMART) tracks? This is the reason I voted for it. – Aways by bicycle It’s complicated, SMART officials say, but it’s coming, piece by piece. You’re talking about 71 miles of trail between Larkspur and Cloverdale, 54 miles of it along railroad right of way and 17 miles on city streets. Parts of the trail have already been built, some are under construction, some are ready to… Read More »