Central Coast highway projects reach $1 billion

Caltrans has achieved a historic milestone with over $1 billion worth of active construction in 83 projects in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. 

These projects aim to improve the infrastructure for all travelers, including those on foot, bicycle, bus, or automobile on the Central Coast. Many are complete or in-progress.

Notable projects include a $116 million plan to widen Highway 46 East to the Shandon Roadside Rest Area, a $96 million project to construct the first-ever carpool lanes in Santa Barbara County on Highway 101, and a $78 million project to rehabilitate pavement on six miles of Highway 101 and retrofit and widen the Salinas River Bridge near King City. 

Other projects include the construction of a roundabout in San Benito County and a wildlife undercrossing in Santa Cruz County.

Here are more details:

• The $116 million project to widen Highway 46 East to the Shandon Roadside Rest Area will convert a two-lane divided highway into a four-lane expressway. The project follows four completed phases from Paso Robles to Cholame and has future plans to improve the Highway 46 and Highway 41 intersection.
• The $96 million project to construct carpool lanes in Santa Barbara County on Highway 101 through Carpinteria is part of a five-phase, $700 million congestion relief project. The recently completed segment in Carpinteria includes new on and off-ramps, new bridges, new sound walls, and improved intersections for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• The $78 million project to rehabilitate pavement on six miles of Highway 101 and retrofit and widen the Salinas River Bridge near King City in Monterey County will provide a safer driving surface and strengthen the bridges to withstand a future seismic event.
• The $13.7 million project will construct a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of state routes 25 and 156, north of Hollister in San Benito County.
• The $5.4 million project will build a wildlife undercrossing near Scotts Valley on Highway 17 at the Laurel Curve in Santa Cruz County.

Source: CalCoast News