It is arguably one of the diciest sections of roadway in Manteca for drivers and pedestrians alike.

The stretch?

It’s the section of Spreckels Avenue between Phoenix Drive and Norman Drive with not less than three shopping center entrances that don’t line up within 200 feet to the north.

“There are big sight issues at Phoenix Drive,” noted Manteca Mayor Gary Singh.

Besides rolling landscape berms nearly blocking the view to the south of Phoenix, there is a curve where drivers on Spreckels push the speed limit as well as another T-intersection with the four-lane arterial to the north at Norman Drive.

When a distribution center project on a vacant parcel between J&M Equipment and American Modular originally was advanced in 2021, it was done so without the requirement of traffic signals at Phoenix Drive and Spreckels Avenue.

Singh met with Prologis representatives regarding what he referenced as design flaws in the original Spreckels Park Business Park development.

At the time the development was approved 26 years ago, planning staff did address a concern elected officials had voiced about the future need for a traffic signal at Phoenix that tied into the driveway for what was to eventually become Sexton Chevrolet where J&M Equipment is today.

Council was told at the time signals would be considered when traffic warranted it.

Singh and the current council have taken the tact that intersections that are identified as eventuality being in need of signals as development unfolds, should have signals installed at the start and not until traffic issues develop,

The new city policy also assures Manteca taxpayers aren’t on the hook for traffic signals basically triggered by traffic growth creates.

Prologis not only agreed to add the off-site traffic signal to the project that is back before the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m., but the mayor said the firm has tentatively agreed to install them before dirt is turned on the 14.83 acre project.

The latest submission is for a 289,449 square foot structure with 10,000 square feet of office space.

It is higher profile than the previously approved plans to allow a distribution space more conducive to automation.

It also made the footprint almost 15,000 square feet than the original approved 304,120 square-foot structure.

That is allowing the building to be built further away from the Powers Tract neighborhood where plans call for a 14-foot sound wall along the southwest property line near the loading docks.

The project will have two driveways onto Spreckels Avenue.

It will include 189 vehicle parking stalls of which are “standard”, 79 will be plumbed for electric chargers, and the balance handicap accessible.

That is in addition to 83 stalls to park truck trailers at the distribution center that will have 46 loading dock doors.

Prologis will break ground when they have a tenant signed.

Work elsewhere on

Spreckels Avenue

The city is exploring ways to make the pedestrian crossing at Norman Drive that is south of the driveway safer.

The crossing has a reputation for being precarious based on its proximity to the Target driveway as well as the T-intersection at Norman Drive.

The curve on Spreckels to the south with traffic moving at the posted speed limit of 45 mob or higher is an issue.

It is also an all-too-common sight of seeing a motorist in one lane stopped at the crosswalk for a pedestrian while those in the other lane landed the same direction continue to drive through it.

Singh said staff is looking at a possible HAWK crosswalk system such as in place on North Main Street and Edison Street but yet to be activated and one in the initial stages of being installed on Moffat Boulevard at Garfield Avenue.

At the minimum if that is determined not to be do-able in the near future, Singh would like to see the crosswalk signs with flashers on them being removed from Moffat at Garfield be moved to Norman Drive and Spreckels.

If they don’t go there, Singh wants them to be reinstalled elsewhere in the city to enhance predestination safety.

Next year, city crews are expected to address sections of rough pavement on Spreckels Avenue  from just north of the BMX Park to Yosemite Avenue.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com