Caltrans today shut stretches of southbound Highway 101 in the Rohnert Park-Cotati construction area for emergency repairs because of potholes, and some Road Warrior readers reported at mid-afternoon that the traffic backup stretched for quite a ways from Rohnert Park toward Santa Rosa.

Caltrans first announced it was closing the right lane of southbound 101 at West Sierra Avenue in Cotati until noon for repairs.

Later Caltrans announced crews also would have one southbound lane closed from noon to 3 p.m. at Santa Rosa Avenue in Rohnert Park.

The construction zone in Rohnert Park and Cotati has become prone to potholes because of the recent rainstorms. The southbound lanes are rough already, and the rain just makes them worse.

With today’s lane closures and backup, you might want to find an alternate route south or wait until later to go.