Roads Report: 101 Traffic Shift Friday Night, Commerce Boulevard to Close Monday

Starting at 10 p.m. this Friday, July 28, traffic traveling southbound 101 will be rerouted to new overpasses at Wilfred Avenue and Golf Course Drive in Rohnert Park — part of a regional plan to build high-occupancy vehicle lanes, or commuter lanes, aimed at getting people to carpool or take public transportation. 

On Monday, following the traffic shift, for 12 days when construction crews will demolish the remaining overpass that crosses over Commerce.

"When it's all done, a new road will connect Commerce Boulevard to Wilfred," said Bob Haus, a spokesperson for Caltrans.

"The southbound traffic shift completes a process that began on July 22, when northbound traffic was also shifted onto the new structures," Haus said in a news release. "The southbound Santa Rosa Avenue on ramp will also reopen at the same time."

Crews broke ground for the project in June of 2009, according to Caltrans. Haus said the total cost is $40 million, paid for in Proposition 1B transportation bonds and county Measure M monies.

"The idea is giving to give people a viable option to solo comuting," Haus said. "Giving commuters a lane where they're not stuck in the same traffic will be a big advantage."