Engineering work for a coordinated project between San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties has been completed, with the project to see widening and improvements along a one-mile segment of McHenry Avenue from Jones Road in San Joaquin County to 1,700 feet south of River Road in Stanislaus County.

The project will widen and signalize the McHenry Avenue/River Road intersection; widen McHenry Avenue to provide a center left-turn lane; and replace two existing bridges – one across the Stanislaus River, and the other across the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) canal. This project, said officials from both counties, will significantly improve traffic circulation, safety, and air quality. The project will be paid for from various sources, including Federal Bridge and Air Quality funds, as well as State Transportation and Local Measure K funds.

The project documents are currently being finalized, officials added, and the construction contract is expected to be advertised in late October, with construction expected to begin in the spring of 2017. The project cost is estimated at $23 million and construction is anticipated to take approximately three years.

A website will be set up to provide construction updates and other related items. A pre-construction public outreach meeting will also be hosted in early 2017, once a contractor is selected and prior to the start of construction.