Speeches, smiles mark project completion
More than 100 people filled folding chairs and stood near the
center of Hollister’s newest highway link last Monday
afternoon.
The occasion was the dedication of the Hwy. 25 bypass, a
2.7-mile link that will offer motorists a speedy way to transit
Hollister from near its northern boundary to its southern
commercial district.
Speeches, smiles mark project completion
More than 100 people filled folding chairs and stood near the center of Hollister’s newest highway link last Monday afternoon.
The occasion was the dedication of the Hwy. 25 bypass, a 2.7-mile link that will offer motorists a speedy way to transit Hollister from near its northern boundary to its southern commercial district.
The overcast sky opened and sunlight bathed the group about halfway through the hourlong dedication ceremony.
“This is a great day for Hollister and a great day for San Benito. It’s been a long time coming,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho, the first of eight speakers.
Botelho’s remarks were something of an understatement.
It was in 1984 that the city of Hollister published an advertisement, seeking local citizens interested in serving on a transportation committee.
Four years later, local voters passed Measure A, a 1 percent sales tax measure. Steve Rosati, an original member of the transportation committee and a leader in the campaign to pass Measure A, recalled that voters had the vision to vote to tax themselves by an 82.9 percent majority.
“This project is a great deal for the community,” Rosati said. “It marks the end of Measure A, which brought $78 million in local road and highway projects. This project would not be here today without the support of many of the community members here today.”
Rosati noted that six different city councils, boards of supervisors and councils of government have overseen the project since its inception.
School children wandered past during the afternoon ceremonies, and a man and child watched the entire event from a perch high on one of the sound walls that define the bypass route.
There were lots of smiles and polite applause for all speakers.
Supervisor Reb Monaco, speaking on behalf of Rep. Sam Farr, noted that every dollar invested in highway construction projects generates $6 to local economies.
The entire Hwy. 25 bypass project cost $52.1 million, according to Mary Dinkuhn, who managed the project.
Hollister Councilman Victor Gomez observed that he was just 10 years old when Measure A passed.
“We’re headed in the right direction,” Gomez said. “This helps us move into the future.”
The wide boulevard includes bicycle lanes along its entire length, and sidewalks offer pedestrian access. Major intersections are controlled via a series of traffic signals.
Yvonne Caporgno, president of the Hollister Downtown Association, described the bypass as “only the first step in getting our main street back.”
Hwy. 25 is currently routed down San Benito Street and Nash Road. It’s expected that Cal Trans will officially designate the bypass as the state highway at some future date. When that happens, Caporgno promised more events and activities down town, and a more pedestrian-friendly environment.
“This project is going to be hard to top,” Rosati said with a broad smile.
The bypass is expected to open to traffic at the beginning of next week, Dinkuhn said.
