The coming months will see the completion of a new alignment of Woodward Avenue crossing the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to T-intersect with Moffat Boulevard.

It will also include the placement of traffic signals and crossing arms for the new Woodward Avenue alignment similar to what is in place at Industrial Park Drive and Moffat to the west.

The work is part of the 120/99 connector project being overseen by the San Joaquin Council of Governments.

It involves creating a new traffic circulation pattern in connection with the Austin Road interchange replacement.

Since the new overpass will also go over the tracks, it required adding a local road known as Singh Street.

Singh connects Austin Road with Atherton Drive and then the new Woodward Avenue alignment to connect with future on and off ramps.

Work on the Highway 99 will require the shifting of lanes outward from the median to accommodate construction of support columns for the new overpass.

After that, the replacement bridge deck will be constructed.

The work will prompt road closures in the coming months.

*Various nighttime freeway closures needed to place k-rail, paving, and ongoing bridge construction.

*Closure of Woodward Avenue to complete the new alignment construction and traffic signal installation.

*Closure of the northbound off-ramp to accommodate bridge and roadway construction.

It is all part of a three-phase endeavor that will ultimately include two transition lanes in both directions between the 120 Bypass and southbound Highway 99 as well as widening the 120 Bypass to six lanes.

The work at Woodward and Moffat will improve crossing safety and travel between the two roads as it will be via a 90-degree intersection instead of the current angled connection.

The traffic signals will also help address congestion at the intersection, especially during afternoon commutes.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com