Project Fact Sheet
Project Description
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in cooperation with the City of Stockton, the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is underway with environmental analysis and engineering design of a major transportation improvement project along Interstate 5 in
North Stockton.
Project components being studied include widening Interstate 5 for new carpool lanes, converting an existing segment of Interstate 5 mixed flow lanes to carpool use, constructing auxiliary lanes between interchanges, modifying two existing interchanges (Hammer Lane and Eight Mile Road), constructing two new interchanges (Otto Drive and Gateway Boulevard), and constructing freeway noise barriers where warranted within the project limits.
Purpose and Need
The purpose of the proposed project is to make freeway and interchange improvements to Interstate 5 between Charter Way and 1.3 miles north of Eight Mile Road which will:
- Reduce traffic congestion and delay on Interstate 5 and project interchanges as needed to meet existing and long-term (2035) level of service standards.
- Achieve the goals of the 2010 San Joaquin Council of Governments Regional Transportation Plan and the 2035 City of Stockton General Plan.
- Improve regional mobility.
- Encourage High Occupancy Vehicle usage in the Interstate 5 corridor within the project area.
- Provide balanced circulation system/reduce out-of-direction travel.
The project is needed because northwest Stockton has been, and is expected to continue to experience substantial traffic growth – both locally from new area development and regionally from adjacent communities such as Sacramento, Lodi, Lathrop, Manteca and Tracy. In addition, Interstate 5 is a major intercity and interstate trucking route for goods movement along the west coast. This growth, in combination with high truck volumes and substantial increases in through traffic on Interstate 5, has not only increased traffic congestion and delay, but also caused indirect consequences such as inefficient energy use, deteriorating air quality and noise pollution. Sensitive receptors along Interstate 5 throughout the project area currently experience excessive freeway noise. The proposed project improvements include sound barriers at key locations to improve this condition, as well as to reduce long-term
noise levels.
The results of the 2035 traffic analysis indicate that, without any improvements, operations would worsen substantially on Interstate 5, with the total number of freeway segments operating at Level of Service “E” and ”F” increasing from six segments under existing conditions to 19 segments under projected
future conditions.
What’s Happening Now?
The project is in the Environmental Analysis stage, which includes preparation of preliminary design plans and environmental studies. Studies have been conducted to evaluate the project's impacts to noise, air quality, historic resources, biologic resources, traffic and the community. The draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment has been drafted and is currently available for public review and comment through November 12, 2009. The final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2009.
Who is Paying for the Project?
The current stage of the project is being funded in part by local Public Improvement Facilities Fees and also by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration. Construction will be funded by a combination of San Joaquin Measure K Renewal Funds, City of Stockton Public Facility Fee funds and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds. The costs of improvements total $ 441.6 million in today’s dollars.
When is Construction Planned?
The project will be built in stages due to availability of funding. Construction of each component is currently planned as follows, although this schedule is subject to the availability of funds:
| Widening/HOV from Charter Way to Hammer Lane | 2010-2013 |
| Widening/HOV from Hammer Lane to Eight Mile Road | 2010-2013 |
| Hammer Lane Interchange | 2013-2015 |
| Otto Drive Interchange + Aux Lanes | 2011-2014 |
| Eight Mile Road Interchange + Aux Lanes | 2013-2015 |
| North Gateway Interchange + Aux Lanes | 2013-2015 |