Caltrans Plans New Safety Rails for Two Olema Creek Bridges on Highway 1

OLEMA, Marin County — October 31, 2026. Two Highway 1 crossings of Olema Creek are part of a Caltrans project intended to improve bridge rail safety on Marin’s coastal highway.

Which bridges are included?

The Caltrans State Route 1 Bridge Rail Replacement Project proposes upgrading safety barriers at Olema Creek Bridge North, Olema Creek Bridge South, Eskoot Creek Bridge and Coyote Creek Bridge. The current structures range approximately 65–95 years in age.

What changes are proposed?

Caltrans plans to replace outdated rails with designs meeting modern safety standards and to widen the bridge locations by about 16 inches total where required. Engineers will evaluate rail performance and surrounding roadway conditions.

When could construction start?

The project remains in design, with summer 2028 targeted for construction to begin and fall 2029 for completion. Those dates are estimates and should not be presented as a scheduled 2026 closure.

Will Highway 1 close entirely?

Caltrans says its proposal does not include full closures, and that one-way traffic control and temporary signals are anticipated for work on the Eskoot and Olema crossings. Drivers should still verify conditions when construction actually starts.

Source: Caltrans District 4 State Route 1 Bridge Rail Replacement Project overview.

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