Morgan Hill is forging ahead with plans to improve the
interchange at Tennant Avenue and U.S. 101 despite the lack of
federal funding for the project.
Morgan Hill is forging ahead with plans to improve the interchange at Tennant Avenue and U.S. 101 despite the lack of federal funding for the project.
City officials voted to devote $2.8 million more in Redevelopment Agency funds than they originally planned on the project, bringing the total agency commitment to $10.8 million.
The interchange improvements will include widening Tennant to four lanes between Juan Hernandez Drive and Condit Road, a new northbound loop on-ramp, and modified ramp intersections.
Public Works Director Jim Ashcraft said the project would be a boon to economic development.
“No big projects could move forward there, because in their environmental document it would identify a restriction of traffic over and onto the freeway. So really this project is a big inducement to economic development,” Ashcraft said, adding, “As well, our existing residents won’t have to wait as long to get on and off the freeway.”
The city planned to apply for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money, but heard from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission that the project would probably not qualify given that the $150 million in federal funds is earmarked for infrastructure projects in lower income areas, Ashcraft said.
The city is now waiting for Caltrans approval, since the project is mostly on the state’s right of way.
The city originally estimated that the project would cost $14 million, but with construction costs having dropped in the current economy, officials are anxious to get the project out to bid.
“We can save a substantial amount of money, so we don’t want to wait,” Ashcraft said.
When the project is complete, it will look exactly like the Dunne Avenue interchange, with eastbound Tennant motorists traveling on a loop to enter U.S. 101 north, Ashcraft said.
Ashcraft said he expects the project will be awarded to a construction company in November. Since the project is expected to take 18 months to complete, setting a tentative completion date of May 2011.
