Highway 1 Widening between Soquel and Morrissey

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission was awarded over $19 million to put toward construction on Highway 1, the Regional Transportation Council announced Wednesday in a news release.

The funding, approved by the California Transportation Commission, will be used to construct continuous 12-foot wide auxiliary lanes—which connect on-ramps with the next off-ramps—northbound and southbound between Soquel Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard.

Set to take place in the fall, the construction should improve safety by giving motorists an extended area to change and merge within highway lanes.

The La Fonda bridge near will also be replaced to accommodate the additional lane ramps. The La Fonda bridge will be made wider to include bike lanes and expand sidewalk space along La Fonda Avenue, Morrissey Boulevard and Rooney Street.

Project funds were allotted under voter-approved Proposition 1B, also known as the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006, which provides funding for programs developed to improve performance for the state highway system and its major access routes.

Funds from the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) and the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) are the progams under Proposition 1B that will be used to support the new construction.

“The CMIA presents a unique opportunity for the state’s transportation community to provide demonstrable congestion relief, enhanced mobility, improved safety, and stronger connectivity to benefit traveling Californians,” the regional commissions website states.

Of the over $19 million awarded, $16.99 million is provided under the CMIA, with the additional $2.15 million coming from STIP bond funds.

The project, which will run around 18 to 24 months, is anticipated to go out to bid this fall, with construction starting as early as February, while replacement of the La Fonda Avenue overcrossing will take place in summer of 2012 to minimize construction impacts to neighboring schools, businesses and residents.

Click here for a detailed description of the the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project.