40-minute delay incoming for San Joaquin County drivers

Highway crews will be working on the Delta Pavement Improvement Project this week, closing a section of Highway 4 in San Joaquin County for two consecutive weekends. 

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Caltrans is fully closing nine miles of the state highway, from Roberts Road to the San Joaquin/Contra Costa County line, from this Friday at 10 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m. — and again on July 17 from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on July 20, according to a Caltrans news release.

The area has only one lane in each direction and limited shoulder space, Caltrans spokesperson Skip Allum told SFGATE. He said a full closure will enable the work to be done faster than a partial closure with one-way traffic control.

“If we can knock it out in 55-hour closures over weekends, that saves a lot of money and time and potential accidents when we have multiple days of closures more so than just weekends,” Allum said. 

As Highway 4 is the only road that crosses the California Delta in the area west of Stockton, construction will result in a lengthy detour, adding approximately 18 miles to the journey. 

Drivers traveling west will need to take the streets to Interstate 205 westbound, then exit at Mountain House Parkway and travel north to Byron Road before continuing their journey on state Route 4. Drivers heading east will need to take Byron Road south to reach Interstate 205 east and then take several streets to continue traveling on Highway 4. 

The detour is expected to result in delays of 30-40 minutes, Caltrans said. The agency plans to use flaggers and changeable message signs to warn drivers. 

Caltrans said the goal of the project is to restore the current pavement to avoid continued deterioration. The $21 million project is on track to be completed by February, and Allum said Caltrans does not anticipate needing a third weekend closure.