Right Column
SR-58 is a major east-west transportation corridor with a high percentage of truck traffic transporting goods in and out of the state. The project scope will include widening and realigning a 13-mile segment of SR-58 centered on Kramer Junction, where SR-58 intersects with US-395, in San Bernardino County. This section of SR-58 is currently a non-standard 2-lane highway between a 4-lane freeway to the west and a 4-lane expressway to the east, and the project would close this gap. This 2-lane segment includes an at-grade signalized intersection at SR-58/US-395 (Kramer Junction), an at-grade crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad west of that intersection, and numerous uncontrolled at-grade driveway and street access points. There is also an at-grade railroad crossing on US-395 north of the SR-58/US-395 intersection that slows traffic and contributes to accidents when traffic backs up during train crossings.
Project Purpose and Need. The purpose of this project is to provide for increased separation of slow moving vehicles, to separate local and regional traffic, to separate train and vehicular traffic, to reduce accidents, to eliminate the convergence of SR-58 and US-395 traffic. Identified needs for the project include the following:
- Congestion Relief - The 2-lane segment within the project limits operates at a Level of Service (LOS) D, and traffic projections indicate it will fall to LOS F by design year. LOS is the term used to classify traffic flow with LOS A representing free traffic flow with no delays and LOS F representing heavily congested traffic and considerable delays.
- Accident Reduction - The injury and fatal accident rates within the project limits are almost twice that of similar highways, and the non-injury accident rate is more than twice that of similar highways.
- Improved traffic operation - The at-grade driveways and intersections, a traffic signal, and an at-grade railroad crossing generate costly delays for the current 35% daily average of commercial truck traffic, as well as for private vehicle use.
- Improved access to local services - Heavy congestion and at-grade connections create difficulty for traffic entering and existing roadside businesses.
Alternatives Under Consideration. A preferred alternative has not been selected at this point. One No Build (Alternative A) and three Build Alternatives (Alternatives B, C, and D) will be evaluated. All three build alternatives would increase capacity and be reclassified from a conventional highway to an expressway. Alternative B would be a realignment north of the existing highway. Alternative C would be generally along the existing highway alignment. Alternative D would be a realignment south of the existing highway.
Scope of Project:- Widen and realign SR-58 from two lanes to four lanes between the Kern/San Bernardino County line and a point 12.9 miles east on SR-58.
- Construct a new freeway-to-freeway interchange where SR-58 intersects with US-395. This new interchange would have to span the existing at-grade railroad under Alternatives B and C, but this would not be necessary under Alternative D because the new interchange is far enough south of the railroad.