Caltrans spokesman Benjamin DeLanty said transportation officials hope the new lanes, which will add a total of 3.2 miles of north- and southbound carpool lanes, will improve the flow of traffic in an area that is often congested during commuting hours.
"This will maximize the capacity of the interstate and encourage carpooling," he said.
DeLanty said the 45-mile corridor between Oakland and San Jose now has about 23 miles of carpool lanes, which also are called high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes.
Caltrans' goal is to have carpool lanes throughout the corridor, DeLanty said. The lanes opened today will fill a gap in the Fremont area.
DeLanty said the final pieces of Caltrans' three years of work in the area are to finish rebuilding the interchange at Mission Boulevard and building an overpass over Warren Avenue. That work is scheduled to be completed in the spring, he said.
Caltrans director Will Kepmton is scheduled to speak at today's 1 p.m. ceremony along with Alameda County Transportation Association executive director Christine Monsen, Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty and other local leaders.
