Redwood City buys more land for interchange work

The site is approximately 25 feet of road and public utility easement. Project planners need 141 square feet for acquisition and construction easement of 125 square feet. 

Major improvements of the notoriously congested intersection are planned to promote driver, bicyclist and pedestrian safety. 

The entire project extends for 1.9 miles along Highway 101 and 0.4 miles along Woodside Road. 

The interchange upgrades include widening Woodside Road to six lanes, three in each direction, with turn pockets. It also will reconstruct all ramp connections between the road and Highway 101, and construct two flyover ramps for Veterans Boulevard for northbound Highway 101 and to southbound Highway 101. 

The revamp is to eliminate the existing five-legged intersection at Broadway and Woodside Road. Major upgrades to pedestrian and bicycle facilities throughout the project area will also be done. 

The total acquisitions of lands and access rights are estimated to cost $21.3 million, and are fully funded through various grants. These acquisition efforts began in 2023 with appraising the properties, and purchase offers were given between October 2024 and January 2026. 

The resolution of necessity process equips the city to pursue eminent domain acquisitions in the event a purchase agreement isn’t agreed upon. 

With the council’s approval, the city attorney is authorized to file a lawsuit for eminent domain. The governing body approved the same resolutions for three other properties earlier this month.

The city looks to begin construction on the fully-funded project in early 2027.