Caltrans, SANBAG Get Under Way on
Massive I-215 Widening Project

11/02/2009

The California Department of Transportation and the San Bernardino Associated Governments are now under way on the next two phases of the Interstate 215 widening project through downtown San Bernardino.

SANBAG awarded a $172,655,044 contract to Skanska-Rados Construction to build phase 3. The investment includes $128 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds that is expected to create thousands of jobs, many in the Inland Empire.

The project is being conducted by a joint-venture, in which Skanska, as leader, has a 60% share and local construction company Steve P. Rados, Inc., 40%.

Caltrans opened bidding on the Phase 4 segment on Sept. 24 to complete the northern most segment of this 7.5-mi project. This segment funding also includes $81 million of Proposition 1B funds and State Transportation Improvement Program funds. 

All four phases will cost $800 million.

SANBAG says the I-215 project is one of only six highway Recovery Act initiatives in the nation currently valued at more than $100 million.

At the recent groundbreaking, Caltrans Director Randell Iwasaki was joined by Federal Highway Administration Administrator Victor Mendez, California Secretary of the Business, Transportation, & Housing Agency Dale Bonner, San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris, District 8 Director Dr. Raymond W. Wolfe, San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, and other local and state officials, as well as community members.

“After working around the clock to pump federal ARRA funding into the California economy, we are seeing the start of more jobs that will drive our state down the road to economic recovery,” says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “This recovery funding will not only help stimulate the local Inland Empire economy, but also improve area transportation infrastructure for generations to come.”

“Projects like this are evidence that strengthening the economy begins with investment in our local communities,” says FHWA Administrator Mendez. “Improving major routes like the I-215 will ease local traffic congestion, put thousands of people in Southern California back to work and pave the way toward economic prosperity.”

“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony exemplifies what can be accomplished in the Inland Empire when local agencies, elected officials, and the community unite for the good of the region,” says Paul Eaton, president of SANBAG. “SANBAG thanks our federal and state legislators for their collaboration in getting funding for this project, as well as the Riverside County Transportation Commission for their support. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Caltrans and RCTC to improve the mobility needs of the Inland Empire.”

“This double investment of stimulus and Prop 1B will payoff with jobs sorely needed in the region,” says Caltrans’ Randell Iwasaki. “But it is also critical for the area’s economic growth and sets the foundation for the city’s revitalization plans.” 

Phase 3 of the project will improve access to the east and west sides of the city, improve safety with the elimination of fast-lane ramps, improve traffic flow with the use of braided ramps, improve air quality and reduce noise. In addition, the increased capacity will reduce congestion and improve mobility. Phase 4 will add direct connectors to SR-210.

Construction on Phase 1, which reconstructed the Fifth Street Bridge, was led by SANBAG. It began in February 2007 and was completed in February 2008. Construction on Phase 2, led by Caltrans, began in December 2007 and is scheduled to be completed in mid-2010.

Phase 2 is widening I-215 from just north of I-10 to Rialto Avenue from three lanes to five, adding new on- and off-ramps, widening Mill Street, and constructing a new bridge at Inland Center Drive.

Full construction activity on Phase 3, led by SANBAG, will be underway in October 2009, and Phase 4, led by Caltrans, will start shortly thereafter. Both phases will be completed in late 2013.

The entire project starts on the I-215 from just north of I-10 to University Parkway. Phases 3 and 4 will continue the widening of I-215 from Rialto Avenue to University Parkway. They include 17 new bridges, new on- and off-ramps, a wider freeway and I-215/SR-210 connector ramps.

The project will greatly ease congestion along a route expected to grow from an estimated 83,000 drivers daily to 130,000 in the next 20 years.

SANBAG is saying that the project, based the ARRA formula, will create 2,000 jobs per year times four years, or 8,000 jobs over the life of the project, says Jane Dreher, public information officer. That is based on the formula from ARRA of 18,000 jobs per $1 billion.

Dreher adds that Skanska says it would create 450 to 600 construction jobs per year, and based on another formula.

Of the $26.6 billion in Recovery Act funds available nationwide for highways, more than 7,000 projects worth more than $18 billion have been obligated. California has obligated $2 billion – or 79 percent – of its $2.6 billion share of the funding available for highways and bridge construction.