This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

STOCKTON-

Caltrans broke ground on a crosstown freeway ramp in Stockton that the Boggs Tract community is very happy about.

Thousands of cars and trucks travel up and down Fresno Avenue, and past Washington Elementary, just feet away from children walking to and from school.

“Everyone is a hurry, coming to and from and trying to get on the freeway, or trying to get on the cross street, so it really becomes dangerous,” Washington Principal Olivia Castillo said.

It’s a nightmare school officials and parents have been living with for years, but Tuesday brought good news as CalTrans began a project that will divert traffic away from the neighborhood.

“I’m very excited. I’ll be happy when I don’t have to see these trucks going up and down and have to worry about my kids or anyone else’s child being hit by a car,” parent Rosie Gardner said.

Gardner’s youngest daughter was hit by a car this past December while walking to school.

“The driver, he even told me. He said, ‘I was not paying attention.’ He was looking for cars,” Gardner said “He proceeded to move forward and he ran my daughter over and she was stuck under the jeep and she had to be airlifted to UC Davis.”

The $67 million project ceremonially began Tuesday but will officially begin in a month or so, bringing about some growing pains. For Castillo, the construction hassle is well worth the end result.

“It’s going to answer a lot of prayers, so this is really nice because our children will feel safer,” Castillo said. “Our parents will feel safer.”

The project will also bring jobs to Stockton and help grow the port. Port officials say they believe, over the next few year,s the number of trucks that will use the crosstown freeway ramp will grow by thousands.