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| Widening project on StanCOG agenda |
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| Written by Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator / | |
| Saturday, 16 February 2008 | |
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A proposed road-widening project between Patterson and Turlock got some special attention during Wednesday night’s discussion about the county’s proposed transportation sales-tax measure. Stanislaus Council of Governments policy board members discussed the proposed initiative’s southern corridor project. The measure would allocate $116.67 million toward widening West Main Street between Turlock and Patterson, with aims to connect Interstate 5 and Highway 99 in the southern part of the county. The project must eventually branch to either the north or the south, because Patterson’s East Las Palmas Avenue, which becomes West Main Street east of the San Joaquin River, is lined with rows of palm trees that are designated as state historical resources, making expansion of the road impossible. Patterson Mayor Becky Campo, Supervisor Jim DeMartini and Patterson City Manager Cleve Morris all urged the board to create a northern bypass that would connect to Interstate 5 at Zacharias Road. Campo said after the meeting that the natural direction of Patterson’s growth is to the north — she even suggested widening Fulkerth Road west of Turlock instead of West Main Street to better connect the two cities. “I think we need to make sure that Turlock understands our needs,” she said. Stanislaus County Supervisor Jeff Grover, however, said the needs of Newman should also be considered in a spirit of regional cooperation, hinting that a southern bypass would be more appropriate. Campo indicated that Grover ’s idea would benefit the 4,800-acre PCCP West Park project proposed for the former U.S. Navy airfield in Crows Landing. The Patterson City Council has opposed that plan in the past, citing problems with its size and potential trouble with rail transport, among other issues. Campo has said she does not want the sales-tax measure to subsidize any portion of that project. Grover said Thursday that regardless of who develops the Crows Landing Air Facility, a business park will be built there. He noted that Patterson’s Keystone Pacific Business Park and a proposed business park in Turlock also need truck access. He said that any decision regarding the route between I-5 and Highway 99 should take all those factors into consideration. Regional cooperation has led to a well-planned thoroughfare in the northern part of the county, he said. “I think we need to try to think above what’s happening now,” Grover said. Newman Mayor John Fantazia said any connection between Highway 99 and I-5 would be helpful. He was pleased that all the city councils in the county resolved to support the sales-tax initiative within a short time. “I think this is historic that all the cities have come together,” he said. To reach Jonathan Partridge at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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