The California Transportation Commission (CTC) last week recommended close to a billion dollars--$975 million--in Proposition 1B bond funding for transportation improvements on Highway 99.
"Highway 99 is the Central Valley's transportation backbone," Caltrans Director Will Kempton said. "The economic vitality and quality of life of the valley are high priorities for the governor. Caltrans is going to deliver these projects quickly and turn promises into reality."
This billion-dollar investment comes just two weeks after the CTC recommended $4.5 billion in transportation funding from the bond's Corridor Mobility Improvement Account.
Key infrastructure improvements on Highway 99 that received funding recommendations include:
• Merced County - $248.3 million to widen two sections of Highway 99 from a four-lane expressway to a six-lane freeway. When these two projects are completed, the entire length of Highway 99 between Bakersfield and Sacramento will have been upgraded to a full freeway;
• Sacramento - $19.1 million to upgrade the Elverta Road/Highway 99 intersection to a full freeway interchange. This project will break loose a traffic bottleneck and provide congestion relief to commuters in fast-growing northern Sacramento County;
• Sutter County - $73.5 million to widen the half-mile-long Feather River Bridge from a two-lane highway to four-lane expressway. Highway 99 is an important regional connector between Sacramento and Sutter County; and
• Stockton - $282.4 million to widen approximately 12 miles of Highway 99 from four lanes to six lanes between State Route 120 and State Route 4. This is a major commuter and goods movement corridor.
For a list of all Highway 99 projects that received approval by the CTC go to www.dot.ca.gov and click on "State Route 99 Corridor."
In other measures, the CTC allocated $215 million in new funding for 100 transportation projects statewide. For a list of these projects go to www.dot.ca.gov/hq/transprog/ctcliaison.htm and click on "March 14-15 CTC Agenda Vote List."
