GILROY – As part of the construction of a new interchange at highways 101 and 25, the Valley Transportation Authority has announced the closure of two roads that currently offer access to Highway 101.

On April 16, Castro Valley Road and Mesa Road in Gilroy will permanently lose access to U.S. 101., with VTA placing traffic control and detour signs for guidance on how to navigate the change. Drivers will be able to access the highway via the interchange to the north at Monterey Road.

The move is part of a larger project to extend and improve the off ramp from Highway 101 to Highway 25 for commuters heading south from Silicon Valley. According to the project website, the current ramp hasn’t been able to handle the growth in southbound traffic, leading to accidents and traffic back-ups around the interchange. The project also lays “the groundwork for future improvements, like widening the freeways and updating nearby highways like SR 152,” said VTA Public Communication Specialist David A. Lovato in an email.

The construction will begin this month and is slated to complete by late 2027, according to Lovato. The project will cost around $136 million.

In future years, VTA plans to reconnect the area to 101 via an extension of Santa Teresa Boulevard, but this project is currently only in the planning phase.

Updates on the current project will be available at vta.org/sr25 or by contacting VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575.

Planned closures of Castro Valley and Mesa Roads as part of construction of the new interchange at Highways 101 and 25. (Valley Transportation Authority)