Gary Singh believes Manteca needs a reality check when it comes to Highway 99 interchanges.
The reality is the city won’t ever be in a position to write checks to build two interchanges identified as needed in the update city general plan
One is for the eastern extension of Roth Road.
The other is for extending Raymus Parkway across the freeway midway between the Austin Road and Jack Tone Road interchanges
Singh said Roth Road could simply be an overpass and Raymus Parkway is no longer needed given state plans to create a “super interchange” in terms of ramp movements tying the Austin Road and 120 Bypass interchanges together on Highway 99.
As the general plan update was getting underway almost seven years ago, a previous council of which Singh was part of, unanimously agreed with his position.
They voted to yank the two proposed Highway 99 interchanges from being considered
The reason was simple.
Given they would both be considered growth inducing, the state would not assist with improvements leaving the city to come up what could end up being $90 million to $100 million tab for both as the Raymus interchange would require shifting Highway 99 eastward to clear the tracks and the freeway.
They also took into consideration the need for two major upgrades of existing interchanges — Airport Way and Main Street on the 120 Bypass that could cost upwards of $50 million to complete. Neither was part the city’s road fee imposed on new growth.
As a result, the city will have to come up with a way to fund the bulk of those two projects beyond growth fees.
The need to come up with $150 million or so for new interchanges was considered staggering by the council given they struggled for nine years to piece together the $30 million plus to build the McKinley Avenue/120 Bypass interchange now under construction.
Singh pointed out the Raymus interchange was proposed before the state’s three-phase project for the 129 Bypass/Highway 99/Austin Road interchanges was adopted that breaks ground next year.
That project has ramps and oversized Austin Road overpass — with the help of city funding — to handle expected growth in southeast Manteca.
That means a $100 million interchange for Raymus Parkway would end up benefiting Ripon more than Manteca and would be paid for on Manteca’s dime if it were to happen.
As for Roth Road, Singh noted truck routes now in the works as well as thestreet layout north of Manteca, will direct truck traffic to the French Camp Road interchange .
With simple ramp improvements, it can be used to handle planned business parks on both sides of Highway 99 in north Manteca..
Roth Road — if it were built — could be an overpass like Louise Avenue and not a full interchange.
While Singh opposes the two interchanges, he said he will still vote for the general plan so as not to delay its adoption. His intent is to get the council to make sure the traffic circulation component when it is updated removes the two envisioned Highway 99 interchanges.
He is also against the general plan calling for Cottage Avenue to have a four-lane overcrossing of Highway 99. Singh said it only makes sense if the city were to somehow make Cottage between Louise and Yosemite avenues four lanes, which is something he objects to strenuously.
