LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Caltrans announced this week that the California Transportation Commission has approved $54.8 million in transportation projects across the state, including funding for work needed to advance a bridge project in Lake County.
The commission allocated the funds for 46 projects throughout California including $31.1 million for fix-it-first projects funded by Senate Bill 1, or SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
This funding will allow Caltrans to repair or replace 16 bridges, 168 lane miles and 150 drainage systems statewide.
In addition, 248 congestion reducing elements will be installed, including highway message signs, cameras and loop detectors to improve traffic flow.
“As a new year begins, we continue our commitment to improve California’s highways, providing drivers with a smoother ride,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “SB 1 is not only allowing us to fix our highways and local roads, but it is also reducing congestion, which allows residents and visitors to get where they need to go more safely and reliably.”
Area projects allocated SB 1 funds includes support costs for a bridge project on State Route 20 in Lake County.
This planned project will replace Bachelor Creek bridge near Upper Lake, approximately 3 miles west of the State Route 20/29 intersection.
The current multi-plate steel culvert bridge will be replaced with precast concrete box culverts. The project was allocated $14,000 in right-of-way support costs.
Also getting funding is a bridge project on State Route 96 and U.S. Highway 101 in Humboldt County which will revamp three bridges at the Willow Creek Bridge on Route 96, the Camp Creek Bridge on Route 96 in Orleans and the G Street Overcrossing along U.S. Highway 101 in Arcata. The project was allocated $171,000 in right-of-way support costs.
The Commission also allocated more than $13.7 million for 21 active transportation projects. Of these,13 received approximately $6.7 million in SB 1 funding to improve sidewalks and bicycle lanes, and provide safer routes to school for children who ride their bicycles or walk to school.
Since SB 1 was signed into law in April 2017, Caltrans has repaired or replaced 71 bridges, paved more than 1,300 lane miles, and increased visibility for drivers by adding highly reflective six-inch striping to more than 7,000 lane miles throughout California.
To date, Caltrans has completed 90 fix-it-first projects and begun work on nearly 400 additional projects.
You can find the complete list of State Highway Operations and Protection Program, or SHOPP, projects that were allocated funds at the January meeting at http://catc.ca.gov/meetings/2019/2019-01/Yellows/Revised_Complete_Book(697).pdf .
SHOPP is the state highway system’s "fix-it-first" program that funds safety improvements, emergency repairs, highway preservation and operational highway improvements. A significant portion of the funding for this program comes from SB 1.
SB 1 invests $5.4 billion per year to fix roads, freeways and bridges in communities across California and puts more dollars toward transit. These funds are split equally between state and local investments and will allow Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges and 55,000 culverts by 2027.