South Bay drivers should start planning for delays and detours this weekend when Caltrans shuts down a section of northbound Highway 87 in San Jose.
The 56-hour closure between Julian Street and Highway 85 will begin Friday at 9 p.m.
“It’s important to follow the detour signs as you move about the South Bay this weekend,” said Victor Gauthier of Caltrans.
During the closure, Caltrans recommends these detours: take southbound Highway 85 to northbound Highway 101 to northbound Interstate 280 or northbound Highway 85 to northbound Highway 17 to southbound Interstate 280.
The work is part of a $69 million project to improve safety.
“We'll be improving the ride quality and enhanced safety on State Route 87," Gauthier said. "It's time to do some repaving on that route. It's going to extend the service life of the pavement. It's going to add another 20-year life cycle, flexible pavement structure."
Crews will also upgrade guardrails and barriers, work on 28 curb ramps at six intersections, and improve traffic signals and drainage facilities.
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And while the end goal is a smoother ride, businesses in the area are expecting a bumpy ride during the closures.
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At Paisano Ristorante Italiano, weekends are the restaurant's busiest time.
“I feel our weekend crowd will be a lot, lot less than we usually get,” said manager Victor Solis.
It’s a big artery for businesses like Master Shin’s Korean Plate in San Pedro Square.
“This location is really dependent on traffic flow from south to here, but the 87 is the main freeway to come to here so if they close at that time it's going to really affect the business,” said Sangwon Shin of Master Shin. “Hopefully we can do much better food so people will come even with no freeway.”
While northbound Highway 87 is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, drivers can brace for another major closure starting Oct. 20 as crews work to rehab southbound Highway 87.
