Patterson Irrigator

I keep hearing about a new highway running from Patterson to San Jose. Does anybody know the scoop on this?

That would be so nice, We have been hearing about this project for years.....from what they say it would cut the trip down to about 35 minutes. There has even been talk of making it a toll road to eleviate costs. But I believe there haven't been much more than initial talks

The chief proponent of that road (Congressman Richard Pombo) was voted out of office. He was able to get funding to study the issue but it won't go beyond that for a very long time.

Most people in the Valley oppose that road. I hope it never happens. It will only encourage more urban sprawl and pollution in the valley. The cities on the Bay Area side of the hills don't want it either and have promised to fight it. They don't want all that traffic spilling onto their roadways.

The solution in this state is not more roads but better public transportation.

The thing is the growing will continue, with or without a freeway carving through the canyon. That freeway has been talked about for years and years....and many locals opposed it because of wanting Patterson to stay in the 5-10K pupulation range. But as we can see that didn't work. I would love it if Patterson was still 3,000 people....but with the ever increasing realestate market Californians will continue to be driven east towards affordable housing.....we(patterson) used to be that affordable housing. Now Arizona and Nevada are starting to feel the same growing pains that the Central Valley felt in the early 90's. I'm all for the freeway....it will bring $$ and resources into our community and I don't think thats a bad thing. It's definitely a double edged sword. Sure would make the drive to Giants games a lot easier

I purchased a home here in 1998 and that was one of the selling points. That a new highway was going to be built from Patterson to San Jose and a study was being done about the environmental impact. Oh well, Patterson isn't "small" anymore, but I love my growing little town.

alphacali,

If that was a selling point, then they misled you. I can almost guarantee, that unless you are planning to work and commute until you are 100 years old, you'll never see it.