It should be a lot less congested at this intersection come Wednesday, when crews are set to reopen the section to through traffic after a month-long closure.
In just one more day, traffic should reopen at the intersection of Airline Highway and Sunnyslope Road as crews are set to finish the last major portion of the Highway 25 bypass project.
The commercial intersection has been closed to through traffic for about a month, prompting detours at each corner and a more congested path to many of the city's businesses in that area.
Council of San Benito County Governments officials expect the last major pieces of the intersection work to get done before Wednesday, COG Transportation Planning Manager Mary Dinkuhn said Monday. Crews were just slightly off the goal of having the closure reopened by the time school starts, which is today, but by only a couple of days.
"A lot of it is the paving in that area," Dinkuhn said of the remaining work there. "They're also installing some drainage systems in that area."
After finishing last touches on the intersection work, crews from Graniterock Pavex will move on and complete what's left on the entire, $34 million project, which is intended to lessen congestion in downtown Hollister by rerouting much of that traffic onto the new bypass to eventually connect with Airline Highway.
Dinkuhn said most of the paving work is done, while some curves and traffic signals still must be installed. There will be six signalized intersections on the new road, at Sunnyslope Road, East Park Street, Hillcrest Road, Meridean Street, Santa Ana Road and San Felipe Road, she noted.
She said although some drivers might be concerned about the signals, she pointed out how the lights will be timed and "traffic should flow smoothly through there."
Drivers can expect to see some minor work around the intersection for a while yet as well, but crews won't have to close off through traffic once it's opened Wednesday, she said.
The entire bypass project is scheduled for completion in October.
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