McHenry Avenue Corridor Improvements
Location
McHenry Avenue and River Road
City or County Responsible for Project
San Joaquin County
Category
Bridge: Efficient and Sustainable Bridge Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects
Author
Najee Zarif
San Joaquin County – Public Works
1810 E. Hazelton Avenue, Stockton, CA 95205
2094683053
Project Description
San Joaquin County significantly alleviated commuter and motorists’ frustrations by literally and figuratively clearing the air along one of the busiest and most essential routes in the region. With the nearest river crossing four miles away, the McHenry Avenue Bridge over the Stanislaus River is a vital connection between San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County. Daily commuters, trucks and farm vehicles rely on the McHenry Avenue corridor to maintain local and regional mobility and support the Central Valley’s economic vitality. For years, the intersection of McHenry Avenue and River Road, at the north end of the bridge, experienced congestion during peak hours. Traffic delays result in lost time and fuel, adding to air pollution, and elevating drivers’ stress levels. The San Joaquin County Department of Public Works (SJCPW) identified improvements to mitigate the existing congestion and accommodate future traffic demands along the corridor, which included signalization of the intersection and widening of the McHenry Avenue Bridge from a two-lane to five-lane structure. The project also included plans for alternative travel modes. Among them: a Class 3 bike route to accommodate cyclists; and a raised sidewalk on the bridge to allow pedestrians to cross the nearly 1,200-foot long structure, and enjoy the scenery. The wider bridge also provides for improved service by emergency responders with its wide shoulders. The existing structure lacked refuge for motorists to enable emergency vehicles to pass. As construction neared, the County sought to mitigate congestion prior to and through the three-year construction duration. While a roundabout at the intersection of McHenry Avenue and River Road was less practical to accommodate future traffic demands, the SJCPW Traffic Engineering team was confident that it would alleviate congestion prior as desired. SJCPW proceeded to design and install a temporary roundabout nearly one year prior to the start of construction. The temporary roundabout, fondly termed the “Bean-A-Bout”, was a tremendous success, immediately reducing half-mile queues and 30-minute delays to less than 5 minutes! Throughout construction, the Traffic Engineering team worked closely with the Contractor to redesign the temporary roundabout to accommodate construction activities. The ingenuity of SJCPW’s Traffic Engineering staff resulted in an innovative, but replicative, solution to typical construction-related traffic delays. The temporary roundabout minimized traffic delays due to construction and assisted with expedited delivery of the project. The $24M construction contract finished six months ahead of schedule and nearly $2M under budget. By decreasing unnecessary delays that worsen air quality and trigger negative economic consequences, the project enhanced livability and sustainability by reducing congestion, increasing safety and providing the foundation on which the ultimate corridor improvements can be constructed.
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