District: Caltrans District 3
Contact: Kevin Murphy
Phone: 530-812-7282
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sacramento — Caltrans began work today on a project that will beautify nine miles of State Route 99 (SR 99) from Broadway to just south of Mack Road in Sacramento. The $12.8 million project is made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.
“I commend Sacramento for beautifully combining murals and motorways, art and transportation, in the design for this inspiring Clean California project,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Both its creativity and practicality are hallmark characteristics Governor Newsom had in mind for projects when he launched Clean California last year.”
This is the first of six Clean California safety and beautification projects to begin construction in Caltrans District 3, which includes Sacramento County. Phase 1 of the project includes painting sound walls and retaining walls in seven locations, installing slope paving with decorative details at 10 bridges, and placing mulch and other materials at various locations to beautify the corridor.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg expressed excitement for the project, the first of seven Clean California projects to break ground in the city over the next two years.
“These Clean California projects, like this set of improvements from Broadway to Mack Road, are going to improve livability in our neighborhoods and employ local artists,” Mayor Steinberg said. “This is a win-win.”
The contract for the first phase was awarded to Vanguard Construction of Livermore. The work is currently scheduled to be completed by June 2023.
Phase 2 will provide improved lighting and new aesthetic fencing for four pedestrian overcrossings, steel art panels at five locations visible from SR 99, and two murals at underpasses along 2nd Avenue and 21st Avenue. The steel art panels and murals will be designed by local artists working with several community organizations. Caltrans estimates Phase 2 will begin in February 2023 and be completed in nine months.
Caltrans partnered with the City of Sacramento and Sacramento County to find local artists to create the public art components for this project that will reflect the vibrant communities of South Sacramento. Elected officials, neighborhood associations, business improvement districts and other community-based organizations have been actively engaged throughout the planning process. Art in public spaces has been shown to benefit communities by reducing graffiti and illegal dumping.
“We truly appreciate the comments received from the public for this project, including in the two online surveys,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet S. Benipal. “Engagement with residents, local businesses, and community organizations in this underserved area has provided us with important information to improve the safety and aesthetics of this critical transportation corridor. The public art components of this project will provide these neighborhoods with the opportunity to showcase their unique identities.”
This project is among 126 Clean California beautification projects worth $312 million designed to transform communities and create connectivity along the state highway system. There are an additional 105 projects statewide funded by nearly $300 million in Clean California local grants to remove litter and transform public spaces in underserved communities. Collectively, these projects are expected to generate 7,200 jobs. The new state budget includes $100 million to fund another round of Clean California local grant projects.
Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans has removed more than 1.1 million cubic yards of litter from state highways – the equivalent of nearly 19,000 tons or enough to fill 344 Olympic-size swimming pools – and hired more than 800 new team members as part of Clean California, including 420 maintenance workers who collect litter and remove graffiti. For more information, visit Clean CA website.
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