Anyone who commutes through the Interstate 280/880/Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose knows how bad traffic can be, especially during the holidays when shoppers are trying to get to Santana Row and Valley Fair Shopping Mall.

Early Wednesday morning, the Valley Transportation Authority opened two new ramps designed to make life easier for drivers: Stevens Creek Boulevard to southbound I-880/280 and southbound I-880 to Stevens Creek Boulevard.

On Thursday, a third ramp, northbound I-280/880 to Stevens creek Boulevard will open.

The ramps have been closed since March.

VTA spokeswoman Brandi Childress said all three ramps are wider and have signals to regulate the flow of traffic.

All the upgrades are to reduce the "weaving," Childress said, and to make the commute "safer with a better flow of traffic."

The traffic upgrades are part of a $62.1 million dollar project that started in 2012. By Thanksgiving, the VTA hopes to open a new offramp from southbound I-880 to Monroe. Early next year, a new flyover is expected to connect northbound 280 to northbound 880.

Of the total cost, $39.2 million came from state bonds approved by voters eight years ago. Washington chipped in with $19 million and the remainder came from local tax dollars.

