Measure I:Interstate 10 Truck Climbing Lane
The Interstate 10 truck-climbing lane between Redlands and Yucaipa was completed June 30, 2005. In November 2003, SANBAG and Caltrans began work on the project, the first phase of an effort to reduce I-10 traffic congestion in the east valley of San Bernardino County. The second phase will involve the widening of I-10 through Redlands. SANBAG is studying the possibility of a third phase: an I-10 truck-descending lane from Yucaipa to Redlands, which will be determined by funding availability.
The truck-climbing lane was designed to improve freeway operations by providing a new lane for trucks and other slow vehicles that face challenges on this 4% uphill grade. A new auxiliary lane was built to improve merging, and freshly rehabilitated pavement now offers drivers a smoother ride on this stretch of freeway. SANBAG was the lead agency for this project, with participation from Caltrans, the City of Redlands and the City of Yucaipa.
The project involved paving the center median and exterior shoulder, adding an auxiliary lane between Ford Street and Yucaipa Boulevard, constructing a concrete median barrier, realigning ramps at Ford Street, Wabash Avenue and Yucaipa Boulevard, replacing deteriorated pavement, building sound walls and retaining walls, relocating utility lines, burying contaminated soil (byproducts of former lead-based fuel), and establishing a Freeway Service Patrol to clear the freeway of accidents.
Funded by a combination of federal, state and local transportation sources, the project totaled $19.8 million:
- Federal Surface Transportation Program funding - $12.8 million
- State Inter-Regional Improvement Program funding and State Highway Operations & Protection Program funding - $4.9 million
- Measure I funding ( San Bernardino County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation) - $2.1 million. Although Measure I makes up the smallest portion of this fund ing, it is unlikely that these federal and state transportation dollars could be secured without this local contribution.
The project also featured a Freeway Service Patrol to help clear stranded motorists from the freeway as quickly as possible. The roving tow service, which operated under the jurisdiction of the California Highway Patrol, began in January 2004. Between that time and the completion of the project, tow truck operators provided free assistance to drivers, including repairing 984 flat tires, cooling off 570 overheated vehicles, replenishing 441 empty fuel tanks, making 1,103 mechanical repairs, assisting with 375 accidents, and more.
For More Information...
- Project Photos
Online Project Photobook