Highway 37 reopens in Marin County after flooding

A large section of state Highway 37 in Marin County reopened Thursday morning after being partially or fully closed since early January due to flooding.

According to Caltrans officials, a 1,500-foot segment of state Highway 37 between U.S. Highway 101 and Atherton Avenue in Marin County reopened around 4 a.m. Thursday morning. Since early January, the 4-lane freeway experienced flooding caused by storms, heavy rain and king tides.

On Feb. 14, Caltrans officials announced that it had awarded an emergency contract to Ghilotti Construction Co. to raise the highway and perform other construction work.

Caltrans officials said construction crews successfully raised the pavement profile, replaced the drainage system with larger pipes, installed a lateral support sheet pile wall, and installed temporary pavement stiping.

They also installed median guardrails and a shoulder concrete barrier on the eastbound side of the highway.

Caltrans District Director Bijan Sartipi said:

“These measures will provide greater climate resiliency on this portion of Highway 37.”

Over the next few months, construction crews will continue work during off-peak hours with lane closures in order to complete several repair projects, including drainage and electrical work.

Sartini said:

“These improvements will not make the road flood proof. … But they will ensure future flooding episodes are fewer in number and shorter in duration on this part of Highway 37.”