• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Roadshow Column

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 September 2005, 00:00 CDT

By Gary Richards, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.

Sep. 26--I-205 WIDENING APPROVAL NEAR; 6-LANE PROJECT WOULD START IN '06: QUESTION: Anything new on the widening of Interstate 205 near Tracy? . . . If they widen I-205, why limit it to just six lanes? Wouldn't an eight-lane freeway just bring it up to today's use?

--B. Ruiz, Jack Levy and more

ANSWER: First, the good news. The California Transportation Commission is expected to approve widening of I-205 on Thursday at its monthly meeting in Monterey. The $92 million project is on the consent calendar, meaning this will likely be a slam dunk. Construction would start early next year and be completed in late 2007.

But an eight-lane freeway is not in the works, as the cost would be more than twice, maybe three times as high. Why?

Says Andrew-The-San-Joaquin-Man:

"Going to six requires almost no right-of-way expenses. Going to eight requires extensive right-of-way acquisition. A number of interchange ramps must be reconstructed, and the embankment which was constructed at 1960s-'70s standards does not meet today's standards and would have to be widened.

"With capacity problems on Route 99, I-5 through Stockton and Route 120, it is not like we can take the resources for the next 15 years and devote them solely to I-205. San Joaquin County is widening four lanes on Highway 99 and reconstructing a major interchange to the tune of $72 million. At Route 99-120 in Manteca, we are reconstructing another interchange for $17 million and are completing the reconstruction of a 1960s era interchange at Highway 99 and Arch Road for $36 million."

That's $217 million in improvements, meaning they can't afford another $90 million to make I-205 eight lanes.

Q: I'm sure you have written about what the plan is for the 152-156 intersection back-up problem, but I might have missed it. Could you review what the solution will be?

--Larry Pine, Campbell

A: Keep your fingers crossed. Work could be under way by next summer to add a flyover ramp, eliminating the need for westbound traffic on 152 to make a left turn in front of eastbound travelers to reach 156. But there is concern that federal money might be scaled back for road projects across the country to help pay for hurricane damage in Louisiana and Texas. Memo to President Bush: I'll pay higher taxes to help those poor folks in the Gulf States; just keep the 152-156 project on track.

Q: What's with all the dying redwood trees along Highway 17 from Camden to past I-280? There are loads of redwoods that are dead on both sides of the road, many with a big R on them.

--Bil Brierley

A: Not all are dying, but the VTA is removing about 150 trees to add a northbound merging lane between Camden and Hamilton avenues. The agency will replant 250 new trees, and about 125 will be redwoods.

Q: Will Caltrans finish the 236-9 job or will they let it sit and cover the road with slimy mud all winter?

--Donna Hobbs, Boulder Creek

A: Work at that intersection should be finished in a couple of weeks, smoothing out the curves that have led to many crashes and adding stop signs. Electronic signs will be set up for a few weeks, warning motorists to stop ahead. And workers will also install a yellow "stop ahead" beacon and a permanent red flashing beacon before the stop.

Q: We need to go to San Jose Mineta International Airport on Wednesday. With Highway 87 torn up, how do we get there?

--Joanne Vogelaar, San Jose

A: Three options: Stick to 87 if it's not during commute hours, taking Skyport Boulevard. Or take Highway 101 to Brokaw Road east. Or take I-880 north to Coleman Avenue.

Q: I'm in Monterey, where regular gas is selling for $2.75 a gallon at Valero and the Circle K, if you can believe that. When I tank my car up, it's 20 bucks, man. It brought back the good old days.

--Matt Gresham, Monterey

A: The what?

Q: I don't know if you've heard this before. I was in a left-turn-on-green lane last week. The light changed to green but the vehicle ahead of me didn't move an inch, hence a whole traffic light cycle was lost. Reason: The driver was using a cell phone.

John Wattle

A: It figures.

Contact Gary Richards at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5335.

-----

To see more of the San Jose Mercury News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.mercurynews.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

More News in this Category