Crews are building a new entry gate at Sonoma, California’s Sears Point Raceway to ease traffic congestion at the existing Gate 1 on State Highway 121. The new Gate 7 will be 80 feet wide with six traffic lanes and a new half-mile-long staging area off Highway 121, allowing officials to move more vehicles off the highway during major events.

A press release announcing the new gate quoted Sears Point Raceway President and General Manager Steve Page as saying “Relieving race-day traffic congestion is one of our fundamental goals. The addition of this new entrance will be a tremendous boon both to Sears Point fans and to folks who are simply traveling through the area on major event days.”

Gate 1 will still be used for credentialed personnel such as racers, crew members and media representatives.