Good news for drivers who regularly brave the tangled web of San Rafael’s traffic: Relief is on the way. The long-awaited Bellam Boulevard off-ramp improvement project kicked off on Monday, March 10, promising smoother merges, fewer bottlenecks, and—if all goes according to plan—a little less honking.
Led by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) with assistance from the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW), the $8.1 million project aims to ease congestion on the northbound US-101 and eastbound I-580 off-ramps. The solution? More lanes, better turn options and a touch of strategic road reconfiguration.
The main upgrades include adding a second lane to the northbound US-101 off-ramp and introducing a dedicated right-turn lane onto Bellam Boulevard. These changes are designed to separate left-turning traffic from those continuing straight or merging onto eastbound I-580. The result should be a more efficient traffic flow, reducing the current free-for-all of lane jockeying and last-minute decision-making.
Of course, all this progress comes at a price—namely, construction. While most of the work will happen behind K-rail barriers that won’t impact the number of available lanes, some good old-fashioned traffic slowdowns are expected as drivers inevitably rubberneck at the work zone.
More notably, nighttime travelers should brace for intermittent ramp closures between midnight and 5am. The first round of these closures is scheduled now through March 14, with detours in place. For those who like to plan ahead (or just really hate surprises), a detailed traffic advisory is available in both English and Spanish.
Construction is expected to wrap up by winter, with Caltrans overseeing final approvals and adjustments along the way. On-location signage will keep drivers informed about upcoming closures, and public outreach efforts will continue to provide updates as needed.
Once completed, the revamped ramps should provide an immediate benefit to drivers, easing congestion and making the daily commute through this key corridor a little less painful. And while no roadwork project is ever completely painless, at least this one is happening mostly while we sleep.
For more details and updates, visit tam.ca.gov.
