Work set to begin on deadly SLO County intersection after years of delay. See what’s coming
One of San Luis Obispo County’s deadliest intersections is set to get a major upgrade starting this month.
Construction will launch at the intersection of Highway 101 and Wellsona Road near Paso Robles on Jan. 14, according to a Caltrans news release.
The project includes the construction of a 112-foot underpass beneath Highway 101, as well as a frontage road connecting the underpass with Wellsona on both sides of the highway.
The underpass will eliminate the need for drivers to make left turns or drive straight across traffic on Highway 101 near the San Paso Truck Stop between Paso Robles and San Miguel — a crossing that has resulted in several fatalities over the past decade.
The Wellsona Road-Highway 101 intersection has seen the second-most traffic fatalities in SLO County, just under the notorious Cholame “Y” interchange, The Tribune reported in November.
Eight people died at the intersection between 2014 and 2024. The fatal collision rate at the crossing is higher than the state average, according to Caltrans.
The project — which was first announced in 2017 and delayed for years — is “intended to reduce the number and severity of collisions” at the intersection, Caltrans said.
The first phase of the project includes the construction of a median crossover on the highway, according to Caltrans. Two northbound and two southbound lanes will remain open on Highway 101 during construction.
A bike detour will be in place, and the San Paso Truck Stop will remain open and accessible, Caltrans said.
Construction is expected to be complete by early 2026.
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