Stretch of Highway 41 to close for 5 days in SLO County. Here’s when and where
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Caltrans will close 20 miles of Highway 41 from June 9 to 13 for roadwork.
- Closure is part of major project to construct Cholame 'Y' interchange.
- Detours via Highway 33 may add up to 90 minutes of travel time.
A 20-mile stretch of Highway 41 will soon close for five days, cutting off a crucial artery for drivers traveling between San Luis Obispo County and Fresno.
According to the California Department of Transportation, the multi-day freeway closure is part of a $147 million construction project on the Cholame “Y” interchange, an area of Highway 46 that has been dubbed “Blood Alley.”
The area experienced more traffic fatalities than the California average, with more than 20 collisions and 11 deaths occurring at or near the Y-shaped intersection from 2014 through 2024, according to previous Tribune reporting.
Caltrans crews are working to expand the two-lane highway into a four-lane expressway at the crossroads.
Here’s what to know:
Where will Highway 41 closed due to construction?
Highway 41 will be closed between Highway 46 East and Reef Station near Highway 33, according to a Caltrans news release.
All businesses near the Highway 46 East corridor will remain open during the five-day closure, the state road agency said.
When will freeway be blocked to traffic?
Highway 41 will be shut down due to construction from Monday, June 9, through Friday, June 13, Caltrans said.
Which detours can I take to avoid roadwork?
Travelers headed east on Highway 46 will drive to Highway 33 before reaching Highway 41, according to Caltrans.
Drivers who are traveling south on Highway 41 will take a detour onto Highway 33 to get to Highway 46, the state agency said.
“Delays resulting from this detour are not expected to exceed 90 minutes,” Caltrans said. “Travelers should plan their travel times accordingly.”
Why is SLO County highway closing for 5 days?
The major construction project is for a new Highway 46/Highway 41 Interchange in Cholame in northern San Luis Obispo County.
Caltrans said the upcoming closure must be done to complete connections between the new interchange and Highway 41.
“This project is part of a widening of Highway 46 East from west of Davis Road to west of Antelope Road,” Caltrans said in the release.
Construction will eventually result in the elimination of the at-grade intersection of Highway 46 and Highway 41, Caltrans said.
Once complete, the elevated interchange at the Cholame “Y” will carry drivers over Highway 46 and merge them onto Highway 41 toward Fresno.
Atkinson Construction in Irvine is the contractor for the $147 million project, the state road agency said.
When will roadwork be complete?
Caltrans said the highway widening project is expected to be finished by spring 2026.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM.
