Heads up, Marin County readers—if you often cross into San Francisco or plan weekend city trips, you’ll want to know this: Caltrans has scheduled a third and final closure of a major SF artery. Starting Friday at 7 a.m., 19th Avenue will shut down for about 75 hours, rolling right into Memorial Day weekend.
This project focuses on pavement replacement between Sloat Boulevard and Holloway Avenue in the Sunset District. That stretch often snags drivers from Sausalito, Tiburon, Mill Valley, and other Marin towns heading into the city or back home to places like San Rafael and Novato.
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What this closure means for Marin commuters
Both northbound and southbound lanes on 19th Avenue will close as crews rip up and replace the pavement. If you’re a Marin resident who cuts through San Francisco on weekends or commutes into the Sunset District, brace for traffic delays and longer trips.
Caltrans squeezed the work into a tight window to get it done fast, but that won’t really ease the pain of reroutes and slowdowns for folks leaving Larkspur, Corte Madera, or San Anselmo. Expect detours and some headaches if you’re heading into the city.
For Mill Valley and Tiburon locals who often shoot east toward Market Street or the Embarcadero, you might find yourself on unfamiliar routes or stuck in traffic heading to Civic Center. The project’s all about keeping this busy corridor drivable, since it’s known for heavy traffic and a never-ending cycle of potholes along 19th Avenue.
Timeline, lanes and work scope
Crews need a full-lane closure in both directions between Sloat Boulevard and Holloway Avenue. The work starts at 7:00 a.m. Friday and runs through Monday morning, clocking in at roughly 75 hours.
This is the last planned closure for this round of repairs, following earlier weekends spent patching potholes and repaving. Caltrans wants to knock out the biggest improvements in one go, so the pain is sharp but short.
For Marin drivers, here’s the deal: stick to the schedule, check for traffic alerts, and expect detours that might send you through Sausalito or Greenbrae as you approach the city. The goal is to finish the lane replacement while keeping the rest of the corridor closed to through traffic during peak work hours.
That means getting between Marin and San Francisco this holiday weekend will look a little different. It’s inconvenient, sure, but at least it’s temporary.
Detours, travel times, and best practices for Marin towns
With a long weekend ahead, folks from San Rafael to Novato should get ready for some changes in how they reach San Francisco. Local press and Caltrans advisories are already flagging reroutes and longer trips, especially for anyone who usually counts on 19th Avenue for their commute or a weekend run to the city’s west side.
From Sausalito to Corte Madera, drivers should expect congestion on side routes as traffic diverts from the closure and mixes with the usual weekend crowds. If you’re bound for Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, or the Mission District, well, patience might be your best friend.
- Plan alternate routes in advance—real-time updates from Caltrans QuickMap and local traffic cams can help you pick the best path from San Anselmo, Fairfax, or Larkspur into the city or back to Mill Valley and Tiburon.
- Allow extra travel time—weekends tend to bunch up delays, so leave earlier if you’ve got an appointment in San Francisco or a family thing in the Marina District.
- Consider transit as an alternative—if you can, check out Bay Area transit options that connect to SF, like regional buses or rail, to dodge some of the car chaos.
Practical tips for planning your Memorial Day travel
Honestly, the best defense against an unexpected commute is just being prepared. Marin families from San Rafael and Corte Madera should check Caltrans’ updates and swap route info with neighbors in Sausalito.
It helps to keep a flexible mindset about weekend plans that involve the city. Whether you’re a Tamalpais Valley resident heading to an event in the Sunset District or a downtown Sausalito commuter thinking about a Sunday stroll along the Embarcadero, staying aware and patient can go a long way.
Here is the source article for this story: Final 19th Avenue closure in San Francisco on Memorial Day weekend
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