10/605 freeway interchange project could start ahead of schedule - Whittier Daily News
10/605 freeway interchange project could start ahead of schedule
By Ben Baeder, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/01/2009 10:14:38 PM PDT
BALDWIN PARK - A complete overhaul of the 10/605 freeway interchange could start a year earlier than expected, a top Caltrans official said this week.
Stimulus money and a new law to streamline freeway projects could help get the project started as early as 2010, said Doug Failing, Caltrans District 7 director.
The interchange is known for its short, weaving sections, which bring motorists to a standstill during even moderate traffic. It's so curvy and crowded, a few local engineers call it "Autotopia" after the Disneyland ride.
It is also known for causing big rig trucks to tip, because the weaving sections are too short, according to civil engineers.
A proposal to create a new interchange received
An overtured big rig blocks all lanes on the 10 Freeway east near the 605 Freeway onramp in El Monte on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2008. (SGVN/Staff photo by Watchara Phomicinda) $70 million in state funding in 2007 and was slated to begin in 2011. Now, Failing hopes construction will start even sooner.
"We're looking at that project to see if we can help accelerate it," he said.
Failing has been busy cobbling together stimulus money and other funds for Los Angeles-area projects, he said. Although the 10/605 interchange did not get any of the $625 million in stimulus funding, Caltrans now has more time and resources to get the project going, he said.
"Now that we have a chance to catch our breath, we're going to take another look (at speeding up the process)," he said.
The convergence of the highways was designed in 1964 and was supposed to accommodate population growth until 1984. Even though it's about 25 years overdue for an update, no major changes have been undertaken since it was built.
An average of 438,000 cars use the interchange each day, making it the 19th-busiest in the state, according to Caltrans.
Although Failing said getting the project started early is not a sure thing, it looks more likely now than it has in the past.
ben.baeder@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2230
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