Mayor Gary Singh said the city is working with the San Joaquin Council of Governments to see if Woodward Avenue between Moffat Boulevard and Atherton Drive could be reopened with the placement of a three-way stop.

The stretch originally was supposed to reopen Sept. 26 after a month’s closure to complete a new four-lane alignment crossing the tracks.

Workers encountered some issues with the biggest being a fuel line for gasoline buried along the train tracks that engineers were not aware of before construction started.

That has prevented them from efforts to install all of the traffic signals at the new intersection.

The closure has hurt two nearby businesses that have reported a 35 percent drop off in sales.

It has also put significantly more traffic on the Spreckels Avenue corridor as Woodward traffic bound for downtown, East Yosemite Avenue retail centers, and other points can’t currently access Moffat.

It also has altered traffic patterns of those trying to “bypass” the 120 Bypass heading eastbound during the afternoon commute sending more people down country roads into Ripon to access Highway 99 freeway.

The solution will involve a workaround of the fuel line using pipe.

There are a variety of safety issues as well as state and federal regulations that must be followed meaning it may not end up being a quick fix.

Singh noted a temporary three-way stop would allow Woodward Avenue to reopen and ease congestion elsewhere.

 The Woodward Avenue work is part of the first phase of the 120 Bypass/Highway 99 connector project that the San Joaquin Council of Governments is coordinating.

The first phase also includes a four-lane replacement bridge for the Austin Road interchange on Highway 99 and a second southbound transition lane to Highway 99 from the eastbound 120 Bypass.

Once the bridge is opened in 2027, those exiting northbound Highway 99 at Austin Road will use an overpass to clear both the freeway and the railroad tracks.

They will turn right on a new street after they cross the bridge.

That road — Singh Street — will take them to Atherton Drive.

The project also included traffic signals at Woodward and Atherton by the fire station.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com