Part of Highway 41 to shut down for 3 days. Here’s how to avoid roadwork
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Highway 41 will close for three days as crews connect it to a new interchange.
- The closure supports a $147M project to widen Highway 46 near the Cholame 'Y.'
- Drivers should plan for up to 45-minute detours via Highway 33 and Highway 46.
A 20-mile stretch of Highway 41 will close for a few days, temporarily cutting off a major passage for drivers traveling between San Luis Obispo County and Fresno.
The three-day highway 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.”
A total of 11 people died in crashes at or near the Y-shaped intersection north of Paso Robles from 2014 through 2024, resulting in a traffic fatality rate higher than the statewide average, according to previous Tribune reporting.
During the scheduled closure, crews are working to finish connecting Highway 41 to the new Highway 46 interchange.
The elevated interchange at the Cholame “Y” carries drivers over Highway 46 and merges them onto Highway 41 toward Fresno, according to the California Department of Transportation.
Caltrans said that detours due to construction could add up for 45 minutes to your drive.
Here’s what to know:
Where will Highway 41 close due to construction?
Caltrans will shut down Highway 41 between Highway 46 East and Reef Station near Highway 33, the state road agency said in a news release.
All businesses near the Highway 46 East corridor will remain open during the three-day closure, Caltrans said.
The multi-day road closure was previously planned for early August.
However, the roadwork was rescheduled due to the Gifford Fire burning in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
As of Tuesday, the blaze had grown to more than 130,000 acres — making it California’s largest wildfire of the year so far — and was 95% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
When will freeway be shut down?
This section of Highway 41 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from Tuesday, Aug. 26, through Thursday, Aug. 28, Caltrans said.
The roadway will be open to travelers during overnight hours, according to Caltrans.
What detours can I take to avoid roadwork?
Travelers headed east on Highway 46 can drive to Highway 33 before reaching Highway 41 at Reef Station, according to Caltrans.
Drivers traveling south on Highway 41 can take a detour onto Highway 33 at Reef Station to get to Highway 46, the state road agency said.
“Delays are not expected to exceed 45 minutes,” Caltrans said in the release.
Why is SLO County highway closing for 3 days?
Construction crews are working on the “widening of Highway 46 East” in the Cholame area, according to Caltrans.
The full Highway 46 widening project extends from west of Davis Road to west of Antelope Road.
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 August 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Part of Highway 41 to shut down for 3 days. Here’s how to avoid roadwork."
