California Transportation Commission approves $325.8 million in transportation improvements

Updated Apr 2, 2015
Caltrans has approved $2.9 million for the replacement of the bridge deck crossing over Hanford-Armona Road. Credit: Gary Feinstein/Hanford SentinelCaltrans has approved $2.9 million for the replacement of the bridge deck crossing over Hanford-Armona Road. Credit: Gary Feinstein/Hanford Sentinel

The California Transportation Commission has approved funds for 142 transportation projects across the state, including roads and bridges as well as biking and pedestrian projects.

The funds allocated total $325.8 million, with $132 million from the State Highway Operation & Protection Program for 54 infrastructure and state highway projects.

California Department of Transportation director Malcolm Dougherty said the department is, “embracing a ‘fix it first’ strategy by focusing on preventative maintenance to our existing transportation infrastructure.”

“We are striving to give California’s taxpayers the most bang for their buck because every $1 spent on preventative pavement maintenance translates into a savings of $6 to $14 that would have been spent on expensive pavement repairs,” he continued.

Road and bridge projects receiving funding allocations include:

  • $2.4 million allocated for improvements near the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta from Salsipuedes Street to north of Cathedral Oaks Road.  This allocation will improve roadside areas, construct access gates, create weed barriers and relocate facilities at 75 locations.  This project will reduce exposure to traffic for highway workers and maintenance personnel.
  • $1.2 million to seal bridge decks, replace joint seals, patch spalls, and repair approach and departure slabs on 20 bridges on I-110 Between Florence Avenue and US 101 to extend bridge service life.
  • $4.1 million to the city of Los Angeles for an active traffic control system in Echo Park and Silver Lake, which will automatically change signal timing in real time to match current conditions.
  • $362,000 allocated to Fresno for the McKinley Avenue northbound on-ramp; replace the existing metal beam guardrail with a new concrete barrier to improve safety.
  • $2.4 million to Tehachapi, Kern County, for the Sand Canyon Road Undercrossing. Replace eastbound bridge and resurface ramps to restore bridge load capacity.
  • $2.9 million to Hanford, Kings County, for the Hanford-Armona Road undercrossing. Replace bridge deck to restore bridge load capacity.
  • $591,000 to Farmersville, Tulare County, for the County Road 164 Overcrossing. Repair steel girders that were damaged due to a high load vehicle hit.
  • Improve worker safety ($2.8 million) on four state highways in and near Sacramento by paving narrow areas and gore points as well as placing mulch to control vegetation thereby reducing worker exposure to traffic.
  • Reduce number and severity of collisions ($620,000) on State Routes 49 and 50 in El Dorado County by placing a thin, high-friction surface treatment on the roadway at various locations.
  • Various Counties: $3.3 million has been allocated to improve six chain-on areas throughout the district, including widening paved shoulders, adding lighting and upgrading signage to improve the safety of workers and the traveling public.
  • Shasta County:  $4.4 million has been allocated for bridge deck rehabilitation on 14 different overcrossings on Interstate 5, between Knighton Road to north of the town of Lakehead.

“Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) is building transportation improvements that will benefit the state for decades to come,” Dougherty added. “Not only are we working to preserve our previous investments in the state highway system, but we are investing in projects that will expand the availability of alternative, more sustainable ways of getting from point A to point B.”