The extra half cent you pay every time you buy a taxable item in San Joaquin County is paying off again, this time it made the completion of the widening of Highway 99 from four to six lanes from the 120 Bypass to Arch Road a reality.

The ribbon cutting to mark the completion of the 13.1 mile project that used  $36 million in Measure K sales tax to leverage $89 million from the $19.9 billion Proposition 1B transportation bond approved by state voters in 2006 takes place Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. near Center Appliance at 2020 Crestwood Ave.

The project was designed to reduce congestion by adding two lanes, enhance safety by installing median barriers, and improve traffic flow and provide for growth by the reconstruction of the Lathrop Road/Main Street interchange that was originally built in 1955 . It also replaced the antiquated French Camp interchange, added sound walls, and installed ramp metering.

When the widening between Arch Road and the Cross-town Freeway in Stockton is completed next year, Highway 99 will be six lanes from just south of Turlock to Lodi.

The new Lathrop Road/Main Street interchange will have major long-term impacts on northeast Manteca.

 The realignment of the West Frontage Road through Delta College’s property on the northwest corner of the interchange and aligning it with Crestwood Avenue is allowing Delta College to move forward with eventually developing 350,000 square feet of retail on the land.
 It extended North Main as four lanes from Northgate Drive to tie into an intersection with the southbound on and off ramps at Lathrop Road. The improved traffic flow and access is expected to spur development along vacant parcels along Main Street.

 It is providing a direct route for trucks to access business and industrial parks that exist and are proposed between Lathrop and Manteca along the Airport Way corridor. It also provides a direct truck route between Interstate 5 and Highway 99 in addition to the Highway 120 Bypass and French Camp Road.

Caltrans Director Malcolm Doughtery will speak. Others speaking are State Senator Cathleen Galgiani, San Joaquin County Supervisor Steve Bestolarides, Manteca Mayor Steve DeBrum, and San Joaquin Council of Governments Executive Director Andrew Chesley.