Hated Berkeley intersection near I-80’s Gilman exit to undergo lengthy closure

One of Berkeley’s biggest traffic headaches should soon be gone. Unfortunately, it will take an even bigger, albeit temporary, headache to fix it.

A weekslong closure near Interstate 80’s Gilman Street exit will go into effect starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2. The highway exit itself will not be affected, but Gilman Street will be closed between 2nd Street and 4th Street. The closure is expected to last until late June. No exact date has been given for its reopening.

According to Caltrans, “The closure will accommodate work on a roundabout Caltrans is building that will enhance safety and ease congestion at the Interstate 80 Gilman Interchange.”

The Gilman interchange is notorious among East Bay locals. With no streetlights and multiple outlets converging on Gilman and onto the highway, it’s nearly impossible to know who has the right of way at any given time. The area is well trafficked, compounding the issue, with drivers heading to shops and restaurants off Gilman Street and cyclists traveling to and from the popular Bay Trail.