One of the busiest highway interchanges in the South Bay is getting a facelift.
The Valley Transportation Authority and Caltrans will begin work on the Stevens Creek Boulevard, Interstate Highway 880 and I-280 interchanges.
Nearly every day, and throughout the holiday shopping season all roadways that lead into or out of Valley Fair Mall will be a mess. It might take at least 20 minutes to go two miles (and then you start looking for a parking spot).
Santa Clara County Supervisor and VTA Board Chair Ken Yeager said he has been advocating for the project since 2002. “Anyone who has driven through this area knows that this interchange is one of the most congested in the region,” Yeager said.
Yeager will be at the groundbreaking ceremony Friday on the upper deck of the Valley Fair parking lot closest to Macy's.
The project will bring a new Stevens Creek overpass as well as a new entrance into the mall from I-880.
Next summer, a new flyover ramp that will link north 280 with north 880 will be built. Locals will get bike lanes, sidewalks and soundwalls. Below is a map and the official VTA explanation of the changes.
Caltrans Project Description:
The project proposes to improve traffic flow, safety and access between the Interstate 280 (I-280) and Interstate 880 (I-880) freeway corridors near Stevens Creek Boulevard, including modifications to the freeway-to-freeway intersection of State Route 17 (SR-17)/I-280/I-880 freeway interchange, as well as the adjacent interchanges at I-880/Stevens Creek Boulevard.
Specific improvements include:
Reconfiguring the existing full cloverleaf I-880/Stevens Creek Boulevard interchange to improve traffic flow in the surrounding interchange area by widening and realigning ramps, widening the overcrossing structure at Stevens Creek Boulevard over I-880, improving intersections and providing enhanced access for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Separating freeway-to-freeway traffic from local traffic by constructing a new direct connector from northbound I-280 to northbound I-880.
Constructing direct off ramps to Monroe Street from Southbound I-880.
Objective:
To improve overall safety and traffic flow, enhance pedestrian friendly features along Stevens Creek Blvd., separate regional freeway-to-freeway traffic from local traffic and reduce queuing and traffic backups onto northbound I-280 from the connecting ramps to I-880 and Stevens Creek Blvd. Frequently asked questions.
