Highway 37, the corridor that links Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano counties, is set to be elevated with the help of new federal funding. The scheme is aimed at preventing future flooding on this highway and reestablishing habitat connectivity across the San Pablo Bay.
The highway is viewed as one of the most problematic in the Bay Area since it connects Highway 101 with Interstate 80 in the East Bay. The highway is typically prone to flooding during winter.
A bipartisan infrastructure act is providing the $155 million in funds. The investment is backed by environmental groups and local leaders who have been advocating for enhancements to the highway.
Caltrans Director Tony Tavares commented, “This is a critical Bay Area transportation corridor, and current projections are that it will be under water as soon as 2050 unless we act.” He added, “State and federal investments are coming at a critical time for California as we design climate-resilient projects like this to protect residents from flooding and the impacts of extreme weather events.”
Caltrans officials have announced that they will release the highway project’s environmental impact report on Friday.