Construction has kicked off on improving traffic safety by reconfiguring a significant intersection at San Pedro. The initiative aims to reduce collisions involving freight trucks and other vehicles entering and exiting the port. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County is planning a rehabilitation project for the Old Road in the Santa Clarita Valley, aiming to widen the road, add a protected bicycle lane, and replace two bridges.
(Photo : Unsplash/Maria Lupan )
Road Rehabilitation in San Pedro
Last month, construction began on a project that will cost $130 million and involve reconfiguring a major intersection in San Pedro, which is located close to the Port of Los Angeles. The junction at State Route 47/Vincent Thomas Bridge and Front Street/Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro is the focus of the Port of Los Angeles-Caltrans project.
The goal of implementing the San Pedro interchange project is to lessen the number of collisions between freight trucks and other vehicles as they enter and exit the Port of Los Angeles.
As part of the project, another ramp will be realigned, and two additional ramps will be modified. Additionally, one of the ramps at the present interchange will be replaced. Both Front Street and Harbor Boulevard will also undergo upgrades that include the installation of new curbs, improvements to storm drains, street lighting, updates to traffic signals, bike lanes, curb ramps, and crosswalks.
Moreover, preliminary work on San Pedro's rehabilitation started in March, and the project is anticipated to be finished by 2026. Using a competitive bidding process, the international construction and development company Skanska was chosen to collaborate with the Port on the ongoing project.
Accordingly, traffic impacts that may occur throughout the project will be communicated to the general public and motorists via road signs. The project has secured grant funding totaling $13.4 million from California's Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP), $9.9 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation Port Infrastructure Development Program, and $49.3 million from Metro Measure R. The Port will fund the remaining costs associated with the project.
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Multi-Year Road Improvement Project in Sta Clarita Valley
On the Old Road, which is situated in the Santa Clarita Valley and travels in direct alignment with the Interstate 5 Freeway, Los Angeles County officials have announced their intention to allocate $250 million towards a reconstruction initiative. The proposed multi-year road repair project focuses on the section of road that runs along the unincorporated neighborhoods of Stevenson Ranch, from Magic Mountain Parkway to Henry Mayo Drive.
Throughout the project, segments of the Old Road will be reconstructed and widened to accommodate six lanes and a protected bicycle lane will be added in both directions. Two bridges would also be replaced as part of the Old Road project. One of these bridges would be the Old Road bridge that crosses the Santa Clara River. The Federal Highway Administration has deemed the Santa Clara River bridge physically defective regarding its seismic, flood, and highway design construction.
Kathryn Barger, the supervisor of the Fifth District, which covers the Santa Clarita Valley, stated that large-scale road improvements such as this one are difficult to implement and involve many moving pieces. Reaching this juncture has required six years, and significant achievements such as securing environmental clearance remain to be achieved; however, progress is being made towards such completion.
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