Ground Broken on I-680, I-80, SR-12 Interchange Project

Transportation officials broke ground on Monday on the first phase of the Interstate Highway 80/Interstate680/State Highway 12 interchange project in Fairfield.

The construction will reduce congestion and improve safety for more than 150,000 motorists who travel daily through the interchange, Caltrans spokesman Vince Jacala said.

"Truckers, businesses and motorists will all benefit from this project. It's a winning combination for all," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.

The first phase of the seven phase project will include the construction of a new, 4-lane Green Valley Road over-crossing above I-80 about 200 feet east of the existing 2-lane over-crossing and a new ramp to westbound I-80/SR-12.

The connector ramp from westbound I-80 to SR-12 will be widened to two lanes. The $65 million first phase of improvements could be completed by summer 2016, Jacala said.

The first phase of the project received $15 million after voters approved Proposition 1B in 2006, and to date more than $17 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been used statewide, Jacala said.

All seven phases are between Red Top Road and just past the truck scales in Fairfield, Jacala said. The remaining six phases will be built when funding becomes available.

Those improvements include a new interchange at Red Top Road and I-680; a new westbound connector ramp from westbound I-80 to southbound I-680; realignment of I-680 between I-80 and the Lopes Road exit in Cordelia; realignment of the connector ramp from SR-12 to eastbound I-80; new entrance and exit ramps and the extension of some local streets leading to I-80 and SR-12.

The project is part of the ongoing effort to improve the transportation infrastructure in Solano, Sonoma and Napa counties, Jacala said.

"Collectively these improvements will ease congestion, reduce cut-through traffic on local streets and enhance safety by streamlining connections for motorists transitioning between three major state routes linking the Bay Area, Sacramento and the Napa Valley," Caltrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi said.

Last year a new $100 million truck complex opened along I-80 near Fairfield.

The facility tracks inspections for more than two million trucks annually that travel from the Port of Oakland on I-80 through Northern California.

Several miles of SR-12 in Napa County were widened last year and additional miles of SR-12 are being expanded in Sonoma County, Jacala said.

Officials from Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Solano Transportation Authority participated in the ground breaking on Monday.

--Bay City News