Drivers aching for smoother highways and city streets, the pain is going to ease at a dizzying pace not seen in more than two decades on hundreds of miles on busy eight-lane freeways to narrow two-lane neighborhood streets.

The new 12-cent a gallon tax, county measures, bonds and higher overall revenues are supplying billions in needed cash. The transportation budget exceeds $14.6 billion, which is up from $9.5 billion two years ago.

The higher gas tax invests approximately $5.4 billion per year to fix roads, freeways and bridges across California. These funds are split equally between state and local projects and will allow Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges and 55,000 culverts by 2027. San Jose now estimates it will be able to meet paving needs for the next nine years.

The gas tax increase “is already significantly improving our roads, bridges and overall transportation system,” said Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney, “locally and statewide.”

The big push starts now. Projects delayed by the heavy winter rains have a green light. Warm nights are ideal for paving. Crews are moving equipment into place.

Caltrans has started repaving Interstate 880 between Fruitvale and 23rd avenues in Oakland. Next week repairs will begin to fix the broken pavement from the months-long water leak on 101 south of 880 in San Jose.

Interstate 680 between Scott Creek Road in Milpitas and the 101-280 junction is on the list, as is I-680 from Sunol to Dublin.

There’s more.

Improvements are coming on I-80, Highway 12 and Highway 37 in the North Bay, plus Interstate 580 at the Altamont Pass. Mission Boulevard from the Hayward-Union City border to Industrial/Alquire Parkway is also on the list.

Want even more?

Highway 85 between Bernal Road in San Jose to 101 in Palo Alto. Route 1 in San Mateo County will be resurfaced from the Santa Cruz County line to Pescadero. Meridian Avenue in San Jose will get more work.

Caltrans has begun bridge maintenance on various routes throughout Santa Clara County — at Highway 17 and Campbell Avenue, at El Camino Real and 880, at Highway 85 and Saratoga Creek, at Highway 87 and Almaden Road at Highway 101 and Monterey Road, North 1st Street, Brokaw Road, Lafayette Road, and Moffett Field.

Before retiring in June, Caltrans Director Laurie Berman said, “Our crews worked around the clock this winter responding to the harsh weather conditions that took a toll on our roadways and culverts.” She added that the gas tax boost “will allow the state now to proactively maintain our bridges, repair our roadways, and ensure our drainage systems can handle the winters ahead.”

Caltrans has already completed 102 gas-tax funded projects and has another 469 started or in the works. Since 2017, Caltrans has pumped in over $100 million in gas tax funding in the Bay Area alone.

Most of the paving will take place at night. Some work will be done by Labor Day, but bigger jobs could linger into late this year.

The last time roadway repairs of this magnitude took place was in the 1990s following the doubling of the state gas to 18 cents a gallon. But it was not tied to inflation and soon its purchasing power had dwindled. The current tax is linked to inflation. That means more paving in years ahead.

Rick Magarian of Alameda, who is eager to have 880 repaved from Fruitvale to 23rd in Oakland, said he can’t wait.

“The overpass replacement seems done,” he said. “The road will not survive another winter.”

This should be done around Dec. 25. A nice Christmas gift.

PAVING THE ROAD

Message and directional signs will be in place to assist motorists traveling in areas where paving is expected. But expect delays and allow extra time for the commute.