Drivers passing through Petaluma on Highway 101 can expect different, and probably slower, driving conditions around the Highway 116 interchange starting tonight.
Currently, both a northbound and southbound bridge cross over Highway 116. Beginning tonight, Caltrans will shift all traffic to the southbound bridge so that it can remove and replace the northbound bridge. The work is expected to last through late 2014.
Drivers headed in both directions will share one bridge. There will be two lanes in each direction, separated by a concrete barrier. The speed limit in the construction zone will be 45 mph.
As Caltrans makes these changes, one northbound lane on Highway 101 will be closed Monday night through Wednesday from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. One will remain open.
A southbound lane will be closed Monday and Tuesday nights from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.; one will remain open.
Additional work to reconfigure the northbound off- and onramps to Highway 116 is scheduled to continue Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
The northbound offramp will be closed Monday and Tuesday nights from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and drivers will be redirected to exit at Petaluma Boulevard South or East Washington Street.
The northbound onramp will be closed Wednesday night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The lane shift was originally scheduled for Friday but was postponed until tonight due to foggy weather. This week's work is also weather-dependent.
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