Highway 1 Auxiliary Lane and Bus-on-Shoulder Project Construction Updates
The RTC is currently constructing the second phase of the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lanes and Bus-on-Shoulder project. Phase II from Bay Avenue/Porter Street to State Park Drive, including a new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing at Mar Vista Drive and a replacement of the Capitola Avenue overcrossing, began construction in early 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2026. Phase I from 41st Avenue to Soquel Drive, including a new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing at Chanticleer Avenue was completed in spring 2025.
Construction updates, including any road or highway closures or other activities that may impact traffic, will be posted weekly.
Phase 1: 41st Avenue to Soquel Drive
New Auxiliary Lanes Between 41st Avenue and Soquel Avenue/Drive and Chanticleer Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing are now open
Phase 2: Bay/Porter to State Park Drive
Overnight Lane Closures of Highway 1 Near Aptos Continue
Closures will take place intermittently in both northbound and southbound directions of Highway 1 as follows:
- Highway 1 northbound from the Aptos Creek Bridge to the Mar Vista Pedestrian Overcrossing/State Park Avenue on-ramp from 10 pm to 5 am.
- Highway 1 southbound from the Park Avenue Bridge to the Mar Vista Pedestrian Overcrossing/State Park Avenue off-ramp from 11 pm to 6 am.
Crews will be performing paving work on the outside widening of Highway 1 in both the northbound and southbound directions between the Mar Vista Pedestrian Overcrossing and Capitola Bridge. The work will also include a section of median paving at the Mar Vista Pedestrian Overcrossing. Community members in the area can expect loud noise during this construction phase.
Message and directional signs will alert travelers in advance of the areas under traffic control. Please allow extra time for your travels. These overnight lane closures began in late September and will remain in place Sunday night through Friday morning for approximately two more weeks.
Closure of Southbound Highway 1 Offramp at Bay Avenue
Beginning overnight, August 2, crews closed the southbound Highway 1 off-ramp at Bay Ave. The southbound Bay Ave. off-ramp is scheduled to be closed for approximately four months as crews reconstruct the ramp as part of the bus-on-shoulder facility.
Travelers will follow a detour on southbound Highway 1 to continue southbound and exit at the southbound Park Avenue off-ramp. They will then turn left onto Park Avenue, continue on Soquel Drive, and follow the detour signs back to the Porter Street/Bay Avenue area.
Message and directional signs will alert travelers in advance of the areas under traffic control. Please allow for extra time for your travels through the area.
Closure of Southbound Highway 1 Onramp at Park Avenue
A project to construct north and southbound auxiliary lanes and bus-on-shoulder improvements on Highway 1 between the Bay Avenue/Porter Street and State Park Drive interchanges continues.
On Sunday, April 19, crews closed the southbound Highway 1 onramp at Park Ave. The southbound Park Ave. onramp is scheduled to be closed for approximately six months. This is because the southbound section involves a more extensive scope of work which includes a full roadway structural replacement.
Travelers have two detour options. One detour is heading south on Soquel Dr. and the other is south on McGregor Dr. where both roads lead to the southbound Highway 1 State Park Dr. onramp.
During the closure, crews will be making necessary improvements to the onramp to accommodate the bus-on-shoulder facilities.
Message and directional signs will alert travelers in advance of the areas under traffic control. Please allow for extra time for your travels through the area.
Long Term Full Closure Of Southbound Highway 1 State Park Drive Off-Ramp for Soundwall Construction
Travelers will encounter a long-term full closure of the southbound Highway 1 State Park Drive off ramp beginning on Monday evening, January 26 beginning at 9:00 pm.
This closure is necessary for crews to make improvements with a focus on construction of the wood and metal framework, which will be built to support construction of the Soundwall along the southbound State Park Off-ramp.
The new soundwall along the southbound State Park Drive off‑ramp requires the ramp to be closed to allow for masonry block installation and concrete pours. This work is expected to take approximately three weeks. Once the operation is complete, the ramp will be reopened to traffic.
Traffic Control:
During the full southbound State Park ramp closure, travelers will be directed to exit at Park Avenue off‑ramp interchange, turn left onto Park Avenue, then turn right onto southbound Soquel Drive before rejoining State Park Drive.
Capitola Avenue Overcrossing Now Open
Other Closures
Murray St. Bridge Closure
The bridge is currently open to one-lane, eastbound-only traffic. Westbound traffic must use detour. Westbound vehicles are detoured via 7th Ave., Soquel Ave., and Seabright Ave. Learn more at santacruzca.gov/msb
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