McLaughlin Dr. Road Closure & Transit Impacts

To: UC Santa Cruz Community

From: Transportation & Parking Services

Construction crews are nearing completion on McLaughlin Drive resurfacing between the McLaughlin Drive / Heller Drive intersection to the bridge east of Science Hill, with an expected completion date of Friday, August 6th. 

A full road closure of this section of McLaughlin Drive is expected on Tuesday, August 3rd, and Wednesday, August  4th, to facilitate repaving activities. Please note that this is subject to change for weather or unforeseen conditions. Access restrictions in place during this full road closures include:

  • Both lanes of traffic will be closed. 

  • Use the West Entrance to access the west campus and use the Main Entrance to access the east campus. Cyclists should walk bicycles on sidewalks/paths. 

  • METRO service on routes 10, 18, 19, and 20 will be limited to selected stops on the east campus. 

  • Campus transit will service both west and east campus on shortened routes.

  • Access for emergency (police, fire, medical) vehicles will be maintained.

  • Loading dock access for critical deliveries for BioMed, ISB and E&MS via Red Hill Road will be accommodated. 

Map of road closure and modified transit routes

Additional project information and access restrictions to be imposed by this project during the hours of 7 am to 5 pm are highlighted below:

  • Two-way traffic control will be in place except during full closures. Expect up to five-minute delays in both directions while construction is underway.

  • Cyclists are strongly encouraged to use alternate routes during construction as the road surface will be less than optimal for bike traffic.

  • The Sciences Hill bus stops on McLaughlin Drive will be out of operation for the duration of the project; bus stops at Kresge College (on Heller Drive) and the Student Health Center (on McLaughlin Drive) will remain open.

  • Parking Lot 138 (adjacent to the southwest corner of the Jack Baskin Engineering Building) will be used for construction staging and will not be available for the duration of the project.

  • Access to Parking Lot 139A (north of Engineering 2) will not be impacted and can be accessed via Heller Drive to Engineering Loop to Lot 139A.  Additionally, some of the ParkMobile spots currently in Lot 138 have been relocated to Lot 139A.

Sidewalks will be open during construction. Please use caution when traveling through the project corridor, especially when construction vehicles and/or workers are present.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we make much-needed repairs to this section of McLaughlin Drive.

Questions about this McLaughlin Drive repair project should be directed to Marc Douvia, PPDO Project Manager, at 502-8162 (office), 419-4590 (mobile), or email mdouvia@ucsc.edu.