Highway 101 Traffic Disrupted by Weeklong Civic Center Drive Intersection Closure in San Rafael

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Caltrans will close the Civic Center Drive and Redwood Highway intersection along Highway 101 in San Rafael beginning Thursday, February 26, as part of the Manuel T. Freitas Roundabout Project. The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, affecting traffic entering and exiting Highway 101. Motorists are advised to plan for delays and follow posted detour signs during construction.

Why it matters

The closure of this major intersection in San Rafael will significantly disrupt traffic flow along Highway 101, a critical transportation artery in the region. Commuters and travelers will need to plan alternate routes and expect delays during the weeklong closure.

The details

Several detours have been put in place, including directing northbound Highway 101 traffic to take the Freitas Parkway off-ramp and follow a circuitous route to reach Civic Center Drive or Redwood Highway. Southbound Highway 101 traffic will continue to access the west side of Freitas Parkway. The closure is necessary to complete utility relocation work before Stage 3 construction can begin on the Manuel T. Freitas Roundabout Project.

• The closure will begin on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
• The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The northbound Highway 101 Freitas Parkway off-ramp will also close from 11 p.m. on February 25 to 5 a.m. on February 26 to allow crews to install temporary traffic control devices.
• Stage 3 construction is expected to continue through approximately June 2026.
• The overall project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.

What’s next

Once utility relocation is finished, Stage 3 construction is expected to continue through approximately June 2026, with the overall project expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.