Transportation authorities this week released several design
possibilities for overhauling the deadly intersection of highways
152 and 156.
Two of the four plans under consideration would largely increase
traffic flows into San Benito County, while each of the designs
includes construction of an overhanging bridge to separate traffic
that moves in opposite directions at the intersection.
Transportation authorities this week released several design possibilities for overhauling the deadly intersection of highways 152 and 156.
Two of the four plans under consideration would largely increase traffic flows into San Benito County, while each of the designs includes construction of an overhanging bridge to separate traffic that moves in opposite directions at the intersection.
The bridge aspect of the project is one certainty, officials said, while they will continue considering options for which highway – 156 toward Hollister or 152 toward Gilroy – will become the main corridor to Highway 101. Other options among the four conceived plans include considerations to widen or add selected lanes.
Officials with the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) of Santa Clara County held the public meeting Wednesday night at Casa de Fruta where residents had the opportunity to voice opinions on the planning process. About 60 residents and officials attended, including several representatives from San Benito County.
“We’re trying to improve a fairly nasty intersection at 152 and 156,” said John Ristow, a VTA highway planner at the meeting.
The environmental review for the projected $35-million project should be done within 14 to 16 months, while construction is slated for breaking ground in 2006 and completion in 2008. Residents of San Benito County will not be responsible for any funding, most of which will come from Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration. Thus far, $10 million has been allocated to the efforts.
The two highways meet at the pass known as Don Pacheco Y, which runs adjacent to Casa de Fruta. There have been 66 accidents at the location since 2000, including three fatal crashes and 26 injuries, according to Natalina Bernardi, a civil engineer for BKF Engineers, the company that has been contracted for the design phase. The fatality rate at the intersection is twice the state average for highways, she said.
When traveling southwest on Highway 152 – for instance, from Los Banos – two of the four alternatives presented Wednesday turn Highway 156 toward Hollister into the main corridor. For travelers connecting to Highway 152 toward Gilroy, the road would raise into a bridge over Highway 156.
San Benito County traffic officials say the two alternatives turning Highway 156 into a major thorough-way would increase local congestion problems.
“Then we have all the traffic and congestion headed our way and the problems to solve associated with that traffic,” said Lisa Berg, transportation planner for San Benito County. She said the County Council of Governments will discuss the proposals at its October meeting and likely make recommendations to the VTA.
The other two alternatives would maintain Highway 152 toward Gilroy as the main corridor. When driving westbound to connect with Highway 156 toward Hollister, a bridge would be raised over Highway 152, which would remain at a constant ground level.
One other common aspect to all four alternatives would be – while driving on Highway 156 from Hollister toward Casa de Fruta – the elimination of a left turn option toward Gilroy.
The turn averages only seven cars per hour, and that’s during peak hours, according to traffic analyses. In the future, anyone driving in that direction will probably have to turn around at the Casa de Fruta parkway and re-connect with Highway 152 going in the opposite direction.
The infamous intersection point of the two highways, while undoubtedly dangerous, is one piece of a much larger puzzle to improve highway conditions in San Benito and southern Santa Clara counties, according to VTA officials. Some residents attending the Wednesday forum continually queried officials about the “big picture,” while most of those same attendees said they remained wary of budget considerations.
VTA officials expressed the desire to build a project that can hold up for at least a couple decades because, they said, a desired eight-lane highway in the area is nowhere near fruition.
“This is going to be our baby for the next 20 years,” Ristow said.
