Construction recently began on improvements to State Route 152 and Interstate 5 in California’s Merced County under funds provided by Senate Bill 1, which allow for work to keep 18 bridges functioning throughout the state.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) estimates the roads see around 65,000 vehicles each day, including a sizable amount of heavy truck traffic. The $4.7 million project has been awarded to Myers and Sons Construction. Crews will replace joint seals, repair and restore the roadway, and improve traffic safety.
“I-5 and SR-152 are vital roadways for industrial, agricultural, commercial, and recreational purposes in Merced County,” Caltrans Director Laurie Berman said. “This SB 1 funded project will save taxpayers millions of dollars in costly repairs in the future, provide motorists with a smooth commute, and ensure the Central Valley’s agricultural industry has sustainable routes to keep business booming.”
Work began earlier this month and will continue through weeknights. Intermittent lane closures will affect both highways, though Caltrans does not plan to initiate any full highway closures for the project.
“By extending the service life of the bridges, we are ensuring our roadways can handle the high volume of commercial truck traffic transporting goods between Southern and Northern California, and sustain the weight of trucks hauling agricultural goods, such as tomatoes, poultry, nuts, cattle and other goods between the Central Valley and the Bay Area,” Dennis Agar, director of Caltrans District 10, said.
Under SB 1, California’s transportation infrastructure will see an ongoing funding increase of approximately $1.8 billion annually, for efforts to maintain and rehabilitate the state’s highway system.