GUSTINE, CA – The construction on a major – and long-awaited – transportation improvement project is now underway in the City of Gustine. Originally developed as one element of the “City of Gustine State Route 140 Pedestrian – Bicycle – Motorized Transportation Enhancement Plan”, work on the roundabout officially commenced after a groundbreaking ceremony held today adjacent of the project location at the intersection of Highway 140 and Highway 33.
“This project has been long in the making, but I’m sure it will prove to be worth the wait,” said Mayor Pat Nagy. “I think this will be a great addition to our City.”
The project consists of constructing a single lane roundabout on State Route 140/33 at the intersection of Fourth Street and Sixth Avenue on SR-33/140. Changes to the intersection also include the realignment of Railroad Avenue, the rehabilitation of underground city utilities within the project limits, and the construction of a woonerf between Ash Ave. and Railroad Ave. A woonerf is a Dutch term for a common space created to be shared by pedestrians, bicyclists, and low speed motor vehicles.
“This significant project will allow traffic to flow through 4th Street and 6th Avenue in downtown Gustine, improving intersection operations that will help reduce congestion, improve air quality, and enhance safety at this location.” said Caltrans District 10 Interim Director Grace Magsayo. “The State Route 140 roundabout will not only welcome motorists to the city of Gustine, but it will also serve as a vital route for commuters, and the movement of commercial and agricultural products through the region. We would like to thank motorists and the community in advance for their patience during construction and remind everyone to please drive safely.”
The groundbreaking marks the culmination of more than 10 years of planning as the City collaborated with the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), Merced County Association of Governments and other agencies to endeavor through the design, project permitting, and funding phases. The project is funded by a combination of $2.4 million in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, $810,000 in Westside Regional Measure V funds, and $800,000 in a combination of local Measure V, City Water, and City Sewer funds. Measure V is a half-cent sales tax collected in Merced County used solely for the purposes of enhancing local transportation infrastructure. The City of Gustine, along with other local jurisdictions, receives funding for ‘local’ transportation projects but is also eligible for Measure V funding for larger ‘regional’ transportation projects.
“This project is an excellent example of the collaborative funding required to deliver the kind of transformative infrastructure we need in our modern transportation systems,” said Stacie Guzman, MCAG Executive Director. “This is exactly what Measure V promised to the voters, and we are happy to see it being delivered to the residents of Gustine.”
The project was awarded by Gustine City Council to contractor Agee Construction Corporation out of Clovis, CA. Construction on the roundabout will be completed by the end of 2024.
Caltrans reminds motorists to #KnowBeforeYouGo by checking www.quickmap.dot.ca.gov for real-time highway conditions prior to travel. For the safety of workers and other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert. For more information about transportation projects funded with state and federal investments, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov.
Merced County Association Governments (MCAG) is the designated Local Transportation Authority for Merced County and is responsible for the implementation and administration of Measure V. Information about Measure V, including financial statements and specific project information, can be found at www.mcagov.org/MeasureV.