California Construction News staff writer
California has announced $2.7 billion in more than 150 transportation projects aimed at improving traffic flow, expanding public transit and making roads and other infrastructure better able to withstand extreme weather.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the funding, saying the projects will help modernize California’s transportation system while creating jobs and preparing the state for the effects of climate change.
The funding includes major highway projects, transit improvements and projects designed to improve safety for pedestrians and wildlife.
Some of the largest and most notable projects include:
- Caldecott Tunnel in Orinda – $267 million: Three of the tunnel’s four bores will get new ventilation systems, improved pavement and drainage, and upgraded electrical systems, including LED lighting.
- State Route 37 in Sonoma County – $63 million: Two new carpool lanes will be added between Sears Point and Mare Island to help reduce congestion during busy travel periods.
- Safe Routes to School in Bakersfield – $1.8 million: New warning lights, signs and accessibility ramps will be installed at several busy crosswalks in Oildale, east of Bakersfield, to make it safer for children walking to school.
- Los Angeles transit stations – $2.45 million: Four transit stations will receive safety and other improvements ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Work at 7th Street/Metro Center, Norwalk, Union Station and Harbor Gateway will include better lighting, security, signs to help passengers find their way, passenger amenities and landscaping.
- Wildlife crossing near Dunsmuir – $76.5 million: A wildlife overpass and fencing will be built along Interstate 5 to help animals safely cross the highway. The project will also improve the road, guardrails, signs and drainage.
- Eel River fish passage – $33.5 million: Three projects near State Route 1 in Humboldt County will make it easier for fish to move through the South Fork of the Eel River. Crews will remove barriers, replace culverts with bridge structures and reduce the amount of sediment entering the river.
“California is building a transportation system ready for the future — one that can withstand extreme weather, give people more ways to get where they need to go, and keep our economy moving,” Newsom said.
The latest funding brings the total amount allocated by the California Transportation Commission under Newsom’s administration to about $81.1 billion since 2019. The state says that investment has supported more than 800,000 jobs.
About $1.6 billion of the latest funding comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, while another $542 million comes from California’s Senate Bill 1, which provides funding for transportation improvements across the state.
