Caltrans is promising a “smoother ride” for I-680 motorists but that will come at a cost this weekend, as the state transportation agency has shut down all northbound lanes of the major Bay Area highway this weekend in Sunol and Pleasanton.

The closure, which started Friday at 10 p.m., will end at 5 a.m. Monday, Caltrans said. Northbound I-680 is shut between Sunol Boulevard and Bernal Avenue.

Southbound I-680 remains open, Caltrans said.

The agency closed the highway’s northbound lanes as part of a reconstruction project from Sunol to San Ramon that will see the highway repaved, with some roadway sections replaced entirely. The project is expected to last well into next year.

“Caltrans is aware that the closures will impact the motoring public and every step is being taken to minimize inconvenience,” the agency said.

By mid-morning Saturday, traffic approaching the closure from the south was heavy from just before Andrade Road.

Caltrans advised drivers coming from the South Bay to get around the closure by taking I-880 to state-route 238 to I-580 in order to get onto I-680 north of the road work. The agency recommended that motorists heading northward on I-680 toward the closure get off at Calaveras Road, take westbound Paloma Way to northbound Pleasanton Sunol Road to northbound Sunol Boulevard then westbound Bernal Avenue before rejoining I-680 on the onramp.

Source: www.mercurynews.com