The turning of the ceremonial shovels of dirt Tuesday on the southwest corner of Atherton Drive and South Main Street did more than start the physical work on Manteca’s long-awaited third Save Mart store.

It was the precursor to a major transformation of the South Main Street corridor between the 120 Bypass and Woodward Avenue.

Not only when the dust settles will traffic congestion be significantly addressed, but it will pave the way for major residential and additional commercial development along the stretch.

So far, that includes 1,028 houses, halfplexes, and apartment approved on the east side of Main Street and along Atherton Drive.

And that is on top of handling future traffic as well from 1,600 other homes so far in the entitlement process in southeast Manteca that will end up using the South Main Street corridor to reach the Bypass or locations north of the freeway.

In the coming months work will start on South Main from Woodward Avenue to the 129 Bypass to:

*widen the stretch to six lanes.

*install curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.

*install a median.

*widen the eastbound on-ramp to the 120 Bypass.

Meanwhile, a related endeavor that Mayor Gary Singh has been shepherding will see the installment of traffic signals at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Atherton Drive will also occur.

The two projects are being coordinated to reduce the impact on traffic.

It marks the first time that an entire stretch of an existing  main arterial in Manteca is being widened to its ultimate configuration without having to wait for all bordering property to be developed or redeveloped.

It is the direct result of the current City Council’s requirement that no more partial road widenings take place on major arterials.

The goal was to avoid South Main from being repeatedly ripped up for road construction via piecemeal projects as development occurs on parcels along the section of the corridor.

By creating an area of benefit, the cost is being assigned and money collected to do the work at once.

In the case of property not participating because they have no viable project at the time, the city’s Public Facilities Improvement Plan (PFIP) fees collected on growth for arterial road construction and infrastructure such as main sewer and main water lines will be used to cover that cost.

The PFIP account will be reimbursed when the property is developed.

California Gold Development — the builders of the Marketplace @ Main shopping center — is spending $7 million on off-site work including the widening of South Main Street.

The road widening will be finished before the first phase of the three-phase 120 Bypass-Highway 99 connector project.

The first phase adds a second transition lane from the eastbound Bypass to southbound Highway 99.

A third lane will be added in each direction on the 120 Bypass between Highway 99 and Airport Way.

The first phase also includes replacing the Austin Road interchange on Highway 99 along with work on the freeway.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com