Plans for a new interchange at Highway 70 and Feather River Boulevard in south Yuba County have moved closer to reality with approval to send the project out to bid.
Yuba County supervisors this week OK'd a request for bids for the estimated $14.5 million project near the south end of Plumas Lake. Opening of bids is expected April 15 with construction to begin in late May or early June.
Construction is expected to be completed by late October 2015, said Mike Lee, Yuba County public works director, in a staff report.
The long-planned county project will include removal of a traffic signal at the intersection at the south end of Plumas Lake just north of the Bear River Bridge.
Funding for planning and construction of the project includes $8.5 million in impact and development fees collected from construction at Plumas Lake. The rest comes from state and federal sources.
Once current interchange construction at Riego and Elverta roads is completed, and the Feather River Boulevard project is finished, there would be no traffic signals on the Marysville to Sacramento route.
Lee said earlier the signal in close proximity of the Bear River Bridge can be hazardous when it is foggy, and there are drivers unfamiliar with the road coming across the bridge.
CONTACT Eric Vodden at 749-4769.
Locals push for third bridge
Yuba County supervisors are urging the Sacramento Area Council of Governments to proceed with an analysis looking at the feasibility of making a third Feather River bridge a local project.
Supervisors approved sending a letter in support of the idea, which would involve the local purchase of third bridge right-of-way acquired by the state for an Erle Road to Bogue Road crossing.
The move came after an earlier Caltrans meeting with city and county officials to discuss a third bridge. Since Caltrans is no longer considering the project, it is legally required to sell its 118 acres of right-of-way.
"The local agencies on both sides of the Feather River feel there is value in evaluating the feasibility of a local road alternative to the state highway project prior to Caltrans proceeding with disposal of the properties they are holding for their former project," said the letter signed by Yuba County supervisors chairman John Nicoletti.
The cost of the so-called "local crossing study" has not been determined.
New development at McGowan Parkway and Powerline Road in Yuba County has prompted the Board of Supervisors to approve a new four-way stop at the intersection.
Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to support the four-way stop to accommodate new construction that includes a new Dollar General store.
