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Caltrans Plans Lane Closures On Southbound Highway 17 Los Gatos--Caltrans crews have started work on a retaining wall project on Highway 17 that will close one lane at certain times through the end of the summer. The right lane of southbound Highway 17 will be closed on weekdays from Madrone Drive to Summit Road from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to noon on Friday. Work is expected to wrap up by September 30. As part of the $2.5 million project, crews will build a 550-foot retaining wall along the hillside to fix landslide damage near the summit and prevent future slides. To help blend the wall into its surroundings, Caltrans plans to drill metal bars into the hillside and hang a metal fabric off the bars, then pour concrete over the mesh to give it a texture that will look more like natural rock. Caltrans warns that southbound motorists may experience delays of up to an hour and should allow extra time getting over the hill. Signs advising drivers of the lane closure will be posted on the highway at Lexington Reservoir. As an alternate route, Caltrans suggests taking Highway 85 south to Highway 101 south, then heading west on Highway 129 and back up the coast on Highway 1. [ Metro | Metroactive Central | Archives ]