JANUARY 27 – JANUARY 31 (Week 23)
Under SOUTHBOUND Highway 17 lane closures, roadside work occurred Tuesday to Thursday. Hazard tree, brush removal and erosion control continued along southbound Highway 17 between the Redwood Estates and Summit Road exits.

Work Plan:

FEBRUARY 3 – FEBRUARY 7 (Week 24):

Southbound lane closures are planned for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9AM-3PM. There will be no lane closures on Wednesday 2/5 or Friday 2/7. Lane closures are weather permitting; rain will cancel closure. Roadside hazard tree, brush removal work and erosion control planning will continue along southbound Highway 17 in the area between Redwood Estates and Summit Road exits, and at the southbound offramp to Redwood Estates. Exits will remain open. Inspection and planning for removal of a large group of dead trees north of Hebard Road will begin.

Impacts:

• Over the next several months, crews will be working along SR-17 and in adjacent communities. Traffic in the communities and along SR-17 will be intermittently impacted. Please plan for extended travel times, as shoulder and lane closures will cause delays. If possible, please plan your SR-17 trips before 9:00AM and after 3:00PM or choose alternate routes.
• The project team is working to minimize traffic impacts and will provide weekly updates to residents and highway drivers. Stay informed of delays and alternate routes.
• Check project status and sign up for weekly updates on Firesafe17.com. Traffic information can also be found on 511.org.
• In addition to electronic media, there are several physical locations in the area where SR-17 Shaded Fuel Break info flyers are posted: Redwood Estates Pavilion, Redwood Estates Post Office, Redwood Estates Store, Chemeketa Park, and Summit Store.

JANUARY 20 – JANUARY 24 (Week 22)
No work on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 20^th.
Under SOUTHBOUND Highway 17 lane closures, roadside work occurred Tuesday to Thursday. Hazard tree, brush removal and erosion control continued along southbound Highway 17 between Redwood Estates exit and the SB on ramp to Highway 17 from Summit Road.

JANUARY 27 – JANUARY 31 (Week 23):

Lane closures planned for Monday to Thursday 9am-3pm, weather permitting. Rain will cancel closure. Roadside hazard tree, brush removal work and erosion control planning will continue along southbound Highway 17 in the area from Redwood Estates exit to Summit Road. Exits will remain open.

Impacts:

• Over the next several months, crews will be working along SR-17 and in adjacent communities. Traffic in the communities and along SR-17 will be intermittently impacted. Please plan for extended travel times, as shoulder and lane closures will cause delays. If possible, please plan your SR-17 trips before 9:00AM and after 3:00PM or choose alternate routes.
• The project team is working to minimize traffic impacts and will provide weekly updates to residents and highway drivers. Stay informed of delays and alternate routes.
• Check project status and sign up for weekly updates on Firesafe17.com. Traffic information can also be found on 511.org.
• In addition to electronic media, there are several physical locations in the area where SR-17 Shaded Fuel Break info flyers are posted: Redwood Estates Pavilion, Redwood Estates Post Office, Redwood Estates Store, Chemeketa Park, and Summit Store.

JANUARY 6 – JANUARY 10 (Week 20)
There were no lane closures this week. Chipping work continues along the Los Gatos Creek Trail while large tree removal has progressed from Mountain Charlie Road along the east side (Northbound direction) of Highway 17.

JANUARY 13 – JANUARY 17 (Week 21)
There will be no lane closures on Highway 17 this week. Work will continue on the west side of the highway (northbound direction) between the Redwood Estates exit and Summit Road exit. Lane closure possible on Alma Bridge Road, Monday through Friday, between Highway 17 and reservoir face due to tree and brush removal.

JANUARY 20 – JANUARY 24 (Week 22)
No work scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20
Motorists should be aware that beginning January 21, most upcoming lane closures will be in the southbound direction. (Up until this point lane closures have been northbound.) More information on upcoming lane closures will be available next week.

• Impacts:
  Over the next several months, crews will be working along SR-17 and in adjacent communities. Traffic in the communities and along SR-17 will be intermittently impacted. Please plan for extended travel times, as shoulder and lane closures will cause delays. If possible, please plan your SR-17 trips before 9:00AM and after 3:00PM.
  
  
• The project team is working to minimize traffic impacts and will provide weekly updates to residents and highway drivers. Stay informed of delays and alternate routes.
  
  
• Check project status and sign up for weekly updates on Firesafe17.com. Traffic information can also be found on 511.org.
  
  
• In addition to electronic media, there are several physical locations in the area where SR-17 Shaded Fuel Break flyers are posted: Redwood Estates Pavilion, Redwood Estates Post Office, Redwood Estates Store, Chemeketa Park, and Summit Store.

Next Week, January 6^th – 10^th:
As weather permits, tree and brush removal will continue outside of the highway corridor. No lane closures are planned.

Impacts:

• Over the next several months, crews will be working along SR-17 and in adjacent communities. Traffic in the communities and along SR-17 will be intermittently impacted. Please plan for extended travel times, as shoulder and lane closures will cause delays. If possible, please plan your SR-17 trips before 9:00AM and after 3:00PM.

• The project team is working to minimize traffic impacts and will provide weekly updates to residents and highway drivers. Stay informed of delays and alternate routes.
• Check project status and sign up for weekly updates on Firesafe17.com. Traffic information can also be found on 511.org.
• In addition to electronic media, there are several physical locations in the area where you can get updated information: Redwood Estates Pavilion, Redwood Estates Post Office, Redwood Estates Store, Chemeketa Park and Summit Store.

This Week: December 16 – December 20 (Week 17)
There was a lane closure on Monday from Bear Creek Road to Hwy 9 which provided access to the remaining hazard trees, brush and slopes on the NB side of SR-17.

Midpoint Summary of the SR-17 Shaded Fuel Break Project

• Over the past four months, 180 acres of public and private land along northbound SR-17 — from the Main Street Bridge to the Summit Road overpass — have been treated.
  
  
• 750 tons of organic material, including tree limbs, hazard trees and brush, have been removed and recycled into landscaping material and/or brought to a biomass cogeneration facility where it is a renewable energy source to make electricity.
  
  
• 133 dead, dying and diseased trees over 12 inches in diameter have been removed to reduce fire hazard and to prevent them from falling onto the highway.
  
  
• Erosion control measures, including hydromulching for slope stabilization and the mitigation of waterflow hazards have been applied to protect the hillsides and waterways.
  
  
• 64 cubic yards of trash (enough to fill four 20-yard dumpsters one 4-yard dumpster) have been removed from the highway shoulders.

There are no more lane closures planned for the rest of December. The second half of the Project will begin in January on the southbound side of SR-17.

The SR-17 Shaded Fuel Break Team would like to thank all local residents and commuters for their patience and for understanding how critical a safe evacuation route is for the community. The project is extremely complex, requiring cooperation and coordination between multiple individuals, organizations and agencies.
We appreciate all who are helping to make it happen.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
– CAL FIRE, Caltrans, and the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council