If you plan to be in Milpitas this weekend, steer clear of Montague Expressway near the Great Mall. Starting Friday, July 10 at 7 p.m., all westbound lanes will be closed and then the eastbound lanes will close at 9 p.m. All lanes will then be closed through 5 a.m., Monday, July 13. Traffic will be detoured onto S. Milpitas Blvd through the Milpitas Transit Center and BART Station. Piper Drive, Falcon Drive and Border Way will also be closed at Montague Expwy, weather, scheduling, and conditions permitting.
The lane closure is necessary to allow a VTA-led construction crew to work around the clock to hoist a pedestrian bridge into place to connect Piper Drive to the Milpitas Transit Center and BART station parking garage. A very large crane will lift up and slowly swing the bridge onto its supporting columns. If you happen to live in one of the adjacent apartments, you’ll be able to get a great view from your balcony in the early morning hours on Saturday. If you prefer to sleep in, VTA plans to record the installation with a time-lapse camera and will post the video next week.
The greatly anticipated colorful bridge will serve not only as a gateway landmark for the City of Milpitas, but as an important transportation connection in our region. In the coming months, work will continue on the pedestrian bridge to install guide rails, walkway lighting, fire alarms, the concrete deck, complete the elevator and other finishing work. The pedestrian overcrossing should be open and ready for foot and bike traffic by February 2021.
VTA-led construction projects adhere to state and county health mandates related to COVID-19. For more information, please visit the project website.