Proceeding with design of State Route 65 Interchange
A highway interchange to be built at State Route 65 and Sunset Boulevard got a major boost from the Placer County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Supervisors voted unanimously to have a final design for the project prepared by Mark Thomas & Co. Construction on the interchange tentatively is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2008. ‘The interchange will reduce traffic congestion dramatically because it will eliminate the highway’s last at-grade intersection with traffic signals between Interstate 80 and Lincoln,’ said 2nd District Supervisor Robert Weygandt, the board member who represents the Lincoln area. ‘It’s a great example of how much can be accomplished when local government agencies work together to fund vital transportation projects.’
The county set aside funding for the final design work in its 2006-07 budget. The cost estimate for the final design and related work is $2.5 million.
The project is being jointly funded by Placer County, the city of Rocklin and the Highway 65 Joint Powers Authority. The JPA was set up by the county, Rocklin and the city of Roseville to help fund four interchanges along State Route 65. The JPA’s funding comes from traffic mitigation fees paid by new developments.
The interchanges at Stanford Ranch Road-Galleria Boulevard, Pleasant Grove Boulevard and Blue Oaks Boulevard have already been built.
The total cost of the Sunset Boulevard interchange is estimated at $18.5 million. More than $14 million currently is available.
The interchange will feature a partial cloverleaf design with a circular onramp to move westbound Sunset traffic to the highway’s southbound lanes and a circular on ramp for eastbound motorists on Sunset who want to head north on the highway.