Starting in June, Caltrans will begin an improvement project on Encinal Avenue between Broadway and Sherman Street.

The project calls for repaving and making other upgrades to the street, which is along California State Route 61, that will provide motorists with a smoother ride and enhance safety for pedestrians and wheelchair users, according to a City of Alameda press release. Project details include upgrading existing curb ramps, enhancing crosswalk markings, upgrading signals with accessible pedestrian signals, and installing vehicle speed feedback signs.

The city said Caltrans will also incorporate Complete Streets elements, which includes the conversion of the existing two through lanes to one through lane in each direction, a center two-way left-turn lane, two Class II bicycle lanes, and parking within the project limits.

The project is expected to be complete by the November 2023, with work starting at the Encinal and Broadway intersection and moving north along Encinal. Caltrans will make every effort to minimize inconvenience as the project moves along. Traffic advisories, social media and signage updates will be utilized.

The project is part of Caltrans’ four-year State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP). The 2020 SHOPP is the State Highway System’s “fix-it-first” program that funds the repair and preservation, emergency repairs, safety improvements, and some highway operational improvements on the State Highway System (SHS).

For the 2020 SHOPP, Caltrans will implement $17.4 billion in projects from Fiscal Years 2020-21 through 2023-24.

According to the 2020 SHOPP report, which was modified and adopted by the California Transportation Commission on March 17, the Encinal Avenue pavement rehabilitation project will cost $9.88 million. The original 2020 SHOPP allocated close to $830 million to Alameda County improvement projects.

For more information on the project, visit the City of Alameda website.