On Sunday, Aug. 16, an Almanac photographer photographed people walking along Skyline Boulevard to join the line at Alice's Restaurant. Next door, motorcyclists were parked in rows in the Skywood Trading Post lot. Outside Alice's, a sign read "This is our community. No racing."
That same corner looks different now. Since Oct. 5, all four approaches at Highway 35 and Highway 84 have come to a full stop. The Town of Woodside's alert says drivers coming from every direction must stop before going through. The stop signs are easy to read as the fix. Caltrans treats them as a trial. The agency has said it will study how the intersection performs before choosing its next step, which could include a traffic signal.
A first step in a staged plan
Caltrans says it started at Four Corners because of what its traffic safety evaluations found. The intersection's collision rates were above statewide averages for similar intersections, and a significant share of reported collisions involved improper turns. On its Four Corners project page, the agency describes a phased response with immediate measures first and near-term ones after.
The work has come in layers:
- August 2026. Caltrans added red curbs at the intersection, upgraded the crosswalk and painted "Keep Clear" markings.
- Early October 2026. Construction began on the four-way stop, new and upgraded warning signs, a flashing beacon at the pedestrian crossing and fresh pavement striping.
- Oct. 5, 2026. The all-way stop took effect.
- Through spring 2027. Work continues on striping and lane markings, warning signs and a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon at the crosswalk on Highway 35 just north of the intersection. The Town lists the end date as spring 2027. Caltrans gives a construction window of September 2026 to April 2027.
For anyone stopping at Alice's or Skywood, the work has a practical side. The Town's alert warns of one-way traffic control at points along the corridor, minor delays from equipment staging and less parking while construction is underway.
The signal decision has a date
More than 100 people came to the "Skyline Safety Solutions" town hall at The Mountain Terrace on Oct. 20, and about 200 more watched online. Assemblymember Marc Berman, state Sen. Josh Becker and San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller organized it. Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office gave presentations. The Almanac reported that it was the first time all of those agencies had met in one room to discuss the corridor.
The Almanac also reported that some residents opposed the four-way stop and asked for traffic lights. Caltrans officials called the changes incremental. Amjad Naseer, acting deputy for traffic operations, said Caltrans would install a signal if findings over the next few months show one is needed. Doanh Nguyen, Caltrans' acting District 4 director, raised a concern, as quoted by The Almanac:
"Signals themselves may not be the best solution either and also introduces maintenance issues with sustainability and power."
Lester Lee of Caltrans said the agency hopes the four-way stop and stepped-up enforcement will slow drivers at Four Corners. Caltrans plans to come back early next year for an engineering and traffic study of how well the current changes are working.
What the stop is part of
The stop signs are one piece of a larger corridor effort. Caltrans' immediate list includes a road safety audit, vegetation management, new traffic and speed limit signs, refreshed striping and turnout maintenance, all expected to take about six months. Within six to 18 months, Caltrans plans to evaluate speed enforcement cameras, look at lowering speed limits, add turnout signs and emergency location markers, and decide whether the pavement needs high-friction treatment to prevent skidding. Projects expected to take two years or more include pedestrian crossings and access controls at Clouds Rest Vista Point and the Sempervirens parking lot.
Enforcement is also changing. According to The Almanac's town hall coverage, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a $125,000 grant on Oct. 20 so Woodside can hire more CHP officers for weekend highway patrols. Mueller first proposed the idea at a September Town Council meeting. CHP Capt. Patrick Etchebarne said the agency now issues an average of 1.5 citations a day on these highways, seven times its 2025 enforcement level. A two-day joint operation by CHP and the Sheriff's Office earlier in October produced 43 citations. The officials put the effort in context. CHP counts 11 fatal collisions on Highways 84 and 35 over the past five years.
The two businesses at the corner
None of this moves Alice's or Skywood, and both have been part of the safety discussion.
Alice's Restaurant is at 17288 Skyline Boulevard. Its website lists hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, plus online ordering. With construction on the corridor, it is worth checking before you drive up. The Almanac's August profile says co-owners Jamie and Andy Kerr lease more than 65 parking spaces from Caltrans for customers. Andy Kerr said he turns away early-morning car clubs unless they are there to buy breakfast, and the restaurant discourages meetups in its lots. Jamie Kerr put the restaurant's average customer age "probably close to 50." Andy Kerr walked the reporter past families eating with their children, along with some motorcyclists and hikers. "We're not a motorcycle bar," he told The Almanac. Jamie Kerr also serves with Supervisor Mueller on the South Coast Traffic Advisory Panel, which makes recommendations on highway safety.
The same article describes Alice's as a stop for cyclists and hikers since the 1960s. El Corte de Madera Creek and La Honda Creek open space preserves are within a few miles. Across the intersection, Skywood Trading Post sells gas, groceries, deli food and spirits and is open daily. It is the place to fill up before heading to the coast.
Getting up the hill through December
Four Corners is the most visible project, but the routes to it are changing too. For the next several weeks, timing a trip to Skyline means working around more than one crew.
| Route | What's happening | When |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Old La Honda Road | Closed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during work hours for guardrails and clearing. Reopens after work hours | Through Friday, Dec. 11, 2026 |
| Four Corners | Striping, signs and the crosswalk beacon. Possible one-way control and reduced parking | Through spring 2027 |
| Windy Hill, connector between Hamms Gulch and Eagle trails | Closed for bridge repairs. Alpine Road is the bypass | Nov. 3–6 |
Old La Honda matters to cyclists in particular. The Western Wheelers ride-rating guide uses the climb as its benchmark for climbing pace and asks riders to time themselves on it. With the upper section closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during work hours, a ride on a work day has to start early or wait until the road reopens after hours. On Windy Hill, Midpen warns that wet-season conditions and closures can change from day to day, so check its trail conditions page the morning you go.
The Town's Public Works line, 650-851-6790, handles questions about the Old La Honda work. For conditions on Highways 35 and 84, the Town points drivers to Caltrans QuickMap. Caltrans also offers email updates for the Four Corners project on its project page. That's the simplest way to hear when the study starts and what it finds.
For owners in western Woodside, the drive up 84 and over to Skyline is part of what a property offers, and a buyer will want to know how that drive is changing. Stephanie Elkins follows these corridor projects along with the market. If you're considering a move and want a clear read on how they factor into your home's value, Request a Private Valuation.
