Caltrans banned left turns on three stretches of El Camino Real in San Mateo, Burlingame and Hillsborough. The around-the-clock restrictions are part of a $173 million road rehabilitation project that will reshape the corridor through 2029.
The restrictions, announced in a Caltrans advisory on Tuesday, Sept. 29, cover these segments:
- Bellevue Avenue to Sanchez Avenue: no left turns through mid-November
- Hilltop Road to Peninsula Avenue: no left turns through mid-November
- Hillside Drive to Lincoln Avenue: no left turns through December
All three bans are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Construction areas are reduced to one lane in each direction, according to the Caltrans project page.
Caltrans said the restrictions are meant to prevent gridlock and improve safety while workers repave the corridor, upgrade sidewalks and curb ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, fix drainage to reduce localized flooding, and improve driver visibility.
The project, funded through the State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP), broke ground Dec. 15, 2025, in Burlingame. In Caltrans’ Dec. 15, 2025, announcement, Acting District 4 Director Dave Ambuehl said the work would strengthen "historic El Camino Real" while "planning responsibly for our future."
Bus riders are feeling the impact too. SamTrans rerouted its ECR and 397 lines onto an extended 24/7 detour because construction conditions include lanes that have been or will be narrowed to 10 feet, leaving insufficient room for buses to maneuver safely in all conditions.
The broader project also includes removing aging eucalyptus trees along the sidewalks and planting more than 300 new trees to preserve the historic significance of the Howard Ralston Eucalyptus Rows, according to Caltrans’ December 2025 announcement.
Drivers can check real-time traffic updates at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call 1-800-427-ROAD. Caltrans lists Nawel Tahraoui as the project's public information officer, reachable at [email protected] or (510) 390-3253.
