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Manteca interchange upgrades will ease Ripon street traffic
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The San Joaquin One Voice is the San Joaquin Council of Government’s federal advocacy program that promotes projects, programs and issues of regional significance.

The 2026 One Voice trip to Washington DC is tentatively scheduled for early May.

Among those scheduled to attend is Gary Barton. At the Dec. 9, the Ripon City Council agreed to send the newly appointed mayor as the local representative.

“The City of Ripon does not have a project that meets the criteria identified by SJCOG for a project submittal for the One Voice trip,” said City Administrator Kevin Werner.

Ripon, however, is impacted by the State Route 99 / 120 Connector Project.

While Phase 1A of the project addresses eastbound 120 and southbound 99 is entering the construction phase, Werner noted that SJCOG is looking to complete the design and right-of-way phases – also known as Phase 1B – during the Phase 1A construction period.

The hope here is for Phase 1B to enter construction seamlessly upon the completion of Phase 1A.

During the last 10 years, the City of Ripon officials have attended the One Voice trips with the focus of finding funding for the South San Joaquin Irrigation District Surface Water Connection project and the Altamont Commuter Express Modal Station planned for a section on Industrial Avenue.

Both projects have received federal funding thanks to these efforts.

The City of Ripon is impacted by the SJCOG regional project.

With the current situation of 99/120 freeway, notably the interchange, being subjected to significant congestion, delays, and high accident rates, Ripon is often used as an alternative route.

City officials say that the local streets are not designed for the increased traffic.

Phase 1B of the project calls for widening of the connector from northbound 99 to westbound 120 with the construction of a westbound auxiliary lane on the 120 Highway Bypass between Highway 99 and Main Street in Manteca.

This is being done in order to improve the interchange operations and keeping commuters on the state highway system rather than using local roads to avoid the interchange.