Normally, there would be a clever introduction here. But I can’t think of one, so let’s just get to it:
- Delays, costs build up for 405 Freeway project in L.A. The 10-mile project is expected to be mostly finished by mid-2014, a year later than anticipated. Meanwhile, who pays what for cost overruns is up in the air.
- Cosumnes River Boulevard Extension Finally Breaks Ground After 50 Years. The Cosumnes River Boulevard Extension and Interstate 5 Interchange Project is of the of the city’s largest public works projects ever, which will bring 228 jobs to the construction site. Also: Caltrans Newsletter. This is along the proposed routing for Route 148. [h/t Joel W.]
- Urban Sacramento 1959: West End. You-Tube clip. Per Joel W: “Interesting clip from KCRA on US 40-99e future Capitol Mall featuring a Union 76 station”
- Last remnants of Doyle Drive start to come down, work on new viaduct to start in summer. The second phase of the Presidio Parkway project is picking up steam and drivers should expect to see late-night detours as they head into Marin in the coming weeks. Work has started to remove what’s left of the old Doyle Drive. The roadbed, steel trusses, columns and finally the foundation of the structure will be peeled away.
- San Francisco Bay Bridge repair could cost $5M-$10M. The planned repair for seismic safety rods that snapped on the new span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge could cost between $5-to-$10 million, a state transportation official said Wednesday.
- Broken Bay Bridge rods: Caltrans faulted for inadequate specifications. In the most comprehensive examination to date of why bolts broke on the new Bay Bridge, an analysis released Wednesday faults Caltrans for inadequate specifications and insufficient testing of the steel. It will cost as much as $10 million to fix the mistake and could delay the span’s Labor Day opening. State engineers also assured members of the Bay Area Toll Authority that the chosen fix for key seismic stabilizers compromised by the snapped bolts — a steel saddle and heavy metal strands — will make the span as safe as the original design.
- Fate of interchange project looking brighter. Attempts to get $24 million for an Interstates 80 and 680 interchange project while state money is still available look like they might overcome bureaucratic hurdles.
- Caltrans’ plan to rebuild the W/X freeway could back up traffic in Sacramento. Caltrans will close a section of the elevated W-X freeway through central Sacramento in each direction for two months next spring for major repairs.
- HIGHWAY 91: Toll lanes coming to Corona stretch. In a few years, the main freeway connecting Riverside and Orange counties should go from 10 to 14 lanes, including toll lanes that are expected to shave 90 minutes off drivers’ commutes. The Riverside County Transportation Commission on Tuesday, May 8, approved a $632.6 million contract to build the new lanes on Highway 91 in Corona.
- TRANSPORTATION: Nearly $70 million provided for Inland projects. The California Transportation Commission has allocated nearly $70 million in funding to nine projects in Inland Southern California, including $12 million toward a four-lane grade separation on Riverside Avenue at the railroad tracks in Riverside. The projects are among 114 statewide that were allocated $878 million in funding by the Transportation Commission this week. The projects will alleviate delays, repair aging roads and bridges, and boost the state’s economy by increasing jobs in the construction industry, said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty in a news release.
- LACMTA receives more than $390 million from CTC and Caltrans for improvements. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) was awarded more than $390 million from the California Transportation Commission and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to support construction of new rail, upgrade existing transit service, buy much-needed rail cars.
- Vast network of express lanes on way. Despite nationwide declines in ridesharing, the San Diego region is embarking on a vast expansion of “next-generation” carpool corridors. These new roadways, called express lanes, would accommodate car pools, buses, select “clean air” vehicles and solo drivers willing to pay a toll.
