The Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council in collaboration with CAL Fire and Caltrans will begin removing dead, dying or/and diseased tree and vegetation implement on Highway 9, between Sanborn Road bridge to Highway 35 in the city of Saratoga, Santa Clara County. Removal is needed to reduce flammable vegetation in order to create a safe evacuation/escape route in event of fire on Highway 9 from Sanborn Road bridge to Highway 35.

Vegetation Removal November 1 to November 19:

  • Monday through Friday:
  • 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
cal fire

Changeable message signs and directional signs will be in place to assist motorists traveling in the area. Please follow posted detour information. Motorists are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their commute. Please drive with caution through the construction zone, leave a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you, and Slow for the Cone Zone.

For 24/7 traffic updates, follow 511.org: https://twitter.com/511SFBAY

For real-time traffic, click-on Caltrans QuickMap: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

Or follow Caltrans on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaltransD4

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SCCFSC will organize the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) into a cooperative partnership where each agency provides resources to accomplish a common goal.

AHJ contributions may be resources, permissions and or funding to be determined by the agency representative.

When outside vendors are needed SCCFSC will serve as the project coordinator, issue purchase orders and pay invoices to selected contractors.

Project Location:

The section of Highway 9 that we will be doing starts from the bridge at Sanborn Road to Highway 35. We will be treating both sides of the road and the location is shown on the clickable map below.

Area General Plan:

The project is 4.9 miles from start to finish, both sides of the road for a total length of 9.8 miles. Project duration will depend on several factors and may be done in separate segments depending on availability of contractors and partners.

Goals & Benefits for this project:

We will be clearing hazardous vegetation within 15’ – 30’ from the road edge to create a safe egress in the event of a fire. This will also reduce the risk of a roadside fire escaping into the wildland. This route is a vital evacuation route for many residents that live along Hwy 9 as well as along Skyline Blvd. It is also a main alternate route for those residents along the Highway 17 Corridor as it is one of the only other routes through the area. The work extends beyond the highway right of way that Caltrans treats as part of their regular maintenance. There are local distribution lines present along the entire corridor and transmission lines cross the project area. We have already treated the north side of the road from downtown Saratoga to Sanborn road. Providing continuity with other projects and working towards a cohesive network of fuel breaks and evacuation routes that are of the highest priority in our Countywide Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

For additional information or media inquiries, please contact Eugenia Rendler