Right Column

UPDATE: Circulation of Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement [ DEIR/EIS ]

 

The California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) is proposing to widen a portion of State Route 58 (SR-58) from a two-lane conventional highway to a four-lane expressway, extending from approximately 2.8 miles west of Hidden River Road to approximately 0.7 mile east of Lenwood Road, near the unincorporated Community of Hinkley, in San Bernardino County. The expressway would include: 12-foot standard traveled way lanes; 10-foot standard shoulder widths; and a 78-foot-wide median. Two interchanges would be constructed; one at Hinkley Road and the other at Lenwood Road. All entrance ramps (westbound and eastbound) would have two lanes at the local road and would transition to a single lane prior to merging onto the expressway. All exit ramps would have three-way stops at the exit ramp intersections with the local road. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps would be included, where applicable. Lenwood Road would also involve improvements to accommodate the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line. The project proposes access to non-motorized transportation modes (i.e. pedestrian/bikes/equestrian) by providing 6-foot wide sidewalks as well as standard 8-foot shoulders across the two overcrossing bridges at Lenwood and Hinkley Roads. A short length of the existing SR-58 at the east end of the project would be realigned to tie in to the Lenwood Road westbound entrance and exit ramps. This realigned roadway would be constructed on a fill section (elevated sections of a roadway). All locations with large vertical surfaces (i.e., retaining walls, sound walls, and bridge structures) would include aesthetic/architectural treatment to prevent graffiti.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/EIS) prepared for the State Route 58 Hinkley Expressway Project has been approved for circulation. The DEIR/EIS examines the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives being considered for this proposed project. The Department is the lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The DEIR/EIS tells why the project is being proposed, what alternatives we have considered for the project, how the existing environment could be affected by the project, the potential impacts of each of the alternatives, and the proposed avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures.

The circulation period for this DEIR/EIS is from Friday, January 4, 2013 to Tuesday, February 19, 2013.

Hard copies of this DEIR/EIS, as well as of the technical studies we relied upon in preparing it, are available for review at:
Barstow Branch Library
304 E. Buena Vista Street
Barstow, CA 92311-2806

Caltrans District 8 Office
464 West 4th Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401-1400

An Open Forum Public Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23, 2013 from 6-9pm at the Hinkley Elementary School.

We’d like to hear what you think. If you have any comments regarding the proposed project, please attend the public hearing and/or send your written comments to Caltrans by the deadline.

Submit comments via postal mail to:
James Shankel
Senior Environmental Planner
California Department of Transportation
Division of Environmental Planning
464 W. 4th Street, 6th Floor MS 827
San Bernardino, California 92401-1400

Submit comments via email to: sr58hinkley@dot.ca.gov

Be sure to submit comments by the deadline: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Project Design Changes:
A public information meeting was held on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hinkley Elementary School, located at 37600 Hinkley Road, Hinkley, CA 92347. The meeting was hosted by Caltrans. The purpose of the public information meeting was to update the public regarding the project schedule, the elimination of the interchanges at Valley View Road and Summerset Road, discuss the addition of the detention basins for all alternatives, and to present the proposed slight modifications for the proposed project alignments. A letter was sent out to area residents after the Septermber 22, 2010 meeting..

Overview

State Route 58 (SR-58) from Hidden River Road to Lenwood Road, in San Bernardino County, is a 2-lane highway. This 10-mile stretch of highway is experiencing traffic congestion and delays due to increasing truck traffic and limited passing opportunities. The sections of highway east and west of the project limit are 4-lanes. This transition is the main cause of the bottleneck.

SR-58 is classified as a “high emphasis route” which requires a 4-lane minimum standard. Caltrans gives high emphasis routes the highest priority for funding and completion. SR-58 is an important goods movement link to the Central Valley.

Caltrans proposes to construct a 4-lane divided freeway/expressway to close the 10-mile gap from 2.8 miles west of Hidden River Road (Post Mile [PM] 21.8 ) to 0.7 miles east of Lenwood Road (PM 31.1) to address the following issues.

• Correct the bottleneck
• Improve safety features
• Provide continuity with existing 4-lane sections
• Improve goods movement
• Reduce conflicts between the movement of people and goods
• Improve pavement
• Meet future traffic demands

Caltrans will conduct an environmental study to assess alternative routes for widening and realigning this 10-mile segment of SR-58 and the potential environmental impacts that could result if those routes were built. During the study, one preferred alternative will be identified that provides the most reasonable solution, meets mobility needs of the area, considers cost and regional transportation goals, and addresses stakeholder interests. The results of this study will be provided in an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS).

View a map of the Project Corridor