Hutchison Drive Improvement Project, Phase 2 to Begin

If you commute by car and access campus using the 113/Hutchinson interchange, or if you commute by bike, bus, or walk over 113 via Hutchinson, you will soon be affected by the Hutchison Drive Improvement Project. This project is currently underway and set to close certain ramps at 113 and Hutchinson as soon as Monday of next week (11/8/21). Dateline, the UC Davis faculty and staff newsletter, recently updated an outline of this project as it is set to begin Phase 2 (of 3 phases). So, how will this affect you and your commute? We’ll break it down further, by mode, and let you know what to expect.

Who will be affected by this project?

Motorists 

Anyone driving who exits or enters campus at Hutchinson and 113 will soon find the northside ramps closed. You will still be able to access the highway in both directions but will need to follow a short detour while construction is in progress. Depending on your approach, we have a few pieces of advice to help you out, both for inbound trips (exiting the highway) and outbound trips (entering the highway).

• INBOUND TRAFFIC exiting 113 North (From the I-80 interchange): No changes at this time, but know that there will be impacts to your commutes with the next phase (April 2022). 
• INBOUND TRAFFIC exiting 113 South (From Woodland): No changes at this time, but know that there will be impacts to your commutes with the next phase (April 2022). 
• OUTBOUND TRAFFIC entering 113 North (Towards Woodland): The Northbound 113 slip ramp will be closed. To get to 113 North follow the detour to the first roundabout, looping around to Eastbound Hutchinson (approach the roundabout in the outside, leftmost lane), cross over 113, and merge onto NB 113. Slow down and watch for bicyclists throughout this detour, especially at your final merge onto 113 North. Remember, through traffic has the right-of-way. 
• OUTBOUND TRAFFIC entering 113 South (To I-80):  The Southbound 113 cloverleaf ramp will be closed. To access southbound 113 via Hutchinson you’ll need to follow the detour to the first roundabout, looping around to eastbound Hutchinson (approach the roundabout in the outside, leftmost lane) and merge onto SB 113. Slow down and watch for bicycles throughout this detour, especially at your final merge onto 113 South.  Remember, through traffic has the right-of-way. 
   

Cyclists and Pedestrians 

There is access for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the ramp closures, with some minor disruption brought to the bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The closure of the Northside ramps, and one traffic lane, too closes some of the bike and pedestrian infrastructure. The below tips are here to help orient you to a safe and convenient crossing throughout this phase of construction.   

• CYCLISTS: Expect for more traffic to be in the roundabout and remember to be patient. Roundabouts work best when everyone one slows down, proceeding only when it is safe, and signals their intent. Remember everyone must yield the right-of-way to traffic already inside the roundabout, and always yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. 
   

• PEDESTRIANS: Allocate a little bit of extra time to your trips to cross to the south side of the Hutchinson bridge over 113. The bridge’s north side sidewalk will be closed through this second phase, requiring a detour to the south side. Depending on your destination, going a bit north to the bike-pedestrian bridge between Russell and Hutchinson may make your trip easier with less crossings.
   

Public Transportation

If you commute by bus to campus, there will be no changes to where the buses pick up/drop off, only the exit they use to access campus. This will largely affect those commuting on the FAST Solano Express Blue Line and the Causeway Connection.  

Thank you for being patient and looking out for one another on the roads. Regardless of how people are getting around, the inconvenience that is often brought on by construction will be worth it when we have our new, safer interchange.