The San Benito County Council of Governments discussed
alternatives for a Caltrans project slated to widen Highway 156 on
Thursday.
The 156 gap project is a four-lane widening project from the
Alameda in San Juan Bautista to just past Union Road in Hollister,
according to Lisa Berg, the Caltrans transportation planner.
The San Benito County Council of Governments discussed alternatives for a Caltrans project slated to widen Highway 156 on Thursday.
The 156 gap project is a four-lane widening project from the Alameda in San Juan Bautista to just past Union Road in Hollister, according to Lisa Berg, the Caltrans transportation planner.
On Aug. 28, the Caltrans committee met to discuss alternatives to different projects that were based on a decision matrix that was performed, said Richard Rosales, the Caltrans project manager from District 5.
“We were able to whittle it down to three alternatives,” Rosales said.
The three alternatives consist of a a four-lane expressway south of the existing two-lane highway, with the current highway becoming the two-lane north frontage road. The estimated cost for this alternative would be $30.9 million. The second alternative would be a four-lane conventional highway by adding two lanes south of the existing highway, with the access to the highway remaining the same. The estimated cost would be $16.7 million.
The third alternative would be a four-lane expressway south of the existing highway, with the current highway becoming the two-lane frontage road. The estimated cost is $30.7 million.
“The expressway will be elevated and will allow water to pass from one side to the other on an equalizing basis,” Rosales told the Board. “We can capture the water in roadside ditches, retain it and meter it down to the San Juan Creek.”
With an increase in accidents and the severity of them on this road, the Board expediting the process is paramount, said California Highway Patrol Captain Bob Davies.
“By the mere nature of increased volume of traffic, when people make mistakes they become more serious than simply running off the road,” Davies said. “Anything that can be done to that highway will prevent it from becoming another Highway 25. I would appreciate your support… to get that thing divided as soon as possible.”
