Traffic & Transit
2 South Bay Fires, Hwy 101 Crashes Cause Traffic Disturbances
Update: A tunnel fire on SR-87 closing Willow St. at midday added to a series of incidents reported on Highway 101 in Tuesday traffic woes.
SANTA CLARA, CA — The South Bay experienced a series of traffic incidents Tuesday, with the latest being a crash on the notorious U.S. Highway 101 at Monterey Road in Gilroy at the southbound on-ramp that’s now cleared and a tunnel fire that at one point appeared too hot to handle in San Jose on northbound State Route 87.
The California Highway Patrol said the midday fire was caused by a "homeless encampment," with "miscellaneous debris burning."
San Jose firefighters responded to the highway blaze that blocked lanes inside the northbound side of the bridge over Willow Street, which closed for a few hours at midday.
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Drivers were diverted from the service tunnel inside the bridge, and firefighters were delayed getting into the tunnel to fight the fire with temperatures soaring over 700 degrees, San Jose Fire told Bay City News.
No one was reported as hurt. Heavy smoke billowed out of the tunnel. The incident has since cleared only to make way for others.
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Another fire was reported a few hours later on northbound State Route 17 at busy East Hamilton Avenue, which blocked the on-ramp. Delays were caused by the brush fire that’s now extinguished.
Traffic woes mark the day.
A crash on Interstate 680 led the afternoon commute in Milpitas, at one point blocking the southbound off-ramp north of Jacklin Road But has since cleared.
Earlier in the day, a crash with injuries topped off the commute obstacles on the southbound side of U.S. Highway 101 north of the San Tomas Expressway in Santa Clara. It has since cleared.
Motorists were advised to expect delays.
Also due south on the highway, an obstruction was reported and consequently cleared on the northbound side south of E. Dunne Avenue near Morgan Hill.
Another obstacle north on 101 was reported and cleared south of Moffett Boulevard in Mountain View on the northbound side, prompting more delays.
Farther north, a disabled vehicle blocked the left lane on the major highway at Woodside Road in Redwood City but has been moved.
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