La Mesa / Nisqualli / I-15 Interchange

Update as of 9/7/2010

The La Mesa/Nisqualli Interchange will provide a vital new east-west connection in the City of Victorville. Located between the Bear Valley Road, and Palmdale Road (State Route 18) interchanges, it will relieve traffic congestion on both of those roads. It is a top priority of the Victorville City Council and City staff has been working with county, state and federal agencies for years.

A project of this magnitude cannot be funded, developed and constructed solely by the City of Victorville. The project will connect to Interstate 15 and therefore agencies such as SANBAG, Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration must approve various aspects of the project.

Although it has been in development for many years, City staff has made important strides and the project is now approaching construction.

Here are some quick facts on the project s status.

Status:

• Environmental Document Approved in 2006
• Design (Plans, Specifications and Estimates) Complete August 2010
• Environmental Permits Approved August 2010
• Right of Way Acquisition Complete, pending legal possession of several parcels
• Funding approval Fall 2010
• Start of Construction early 2011
• Open to traffic early 2013

Funding:
The project is fully funded for all phases of the project, including construction (pending the approval of a funding agreement).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City funding sources for Phases 1, 2 and 3 come from local Measure I and Road Development Impact Fees. City funding sources for Phase 4, Utility Relocation, come from local Measure I, sewer and water district funds. City funding sources for Phase 5, Construction, comes from Road Development Impact Fees.

Measure I MLHP is the new Major Local Highways Program for the Victor Valley. This fund is generated by sales tax in the Victor Valley. STIP is a State Transportation Improvement Program grant. Federal STPLare Federal State Transportation Program Local grants. Federal Demo is Federal demonstration grants from Congress. The Measure I MLHP, State and federal funds have been programmed by SANBAG (San Bernardino Associated Governments).

A construction cooperative agreement with Caltrans that identified all the construction funding has been approved by City Council and Caltrans. The City is awaiting the authorization of the $7.5 million of federal STP funds by Caltrans and FHWA in September. This is another necessary step to proceed with construction. The final funding approval will be a funding agreement with SANBAG, anticipated for this fall.

Construction:

The Engineering Department was delegated the authority from Caltrans to Advertise, Award and Administer the construction for this project. We estimate that this will allow us to start construction earlier and potentially save construction dollars in the millions.

After a construction contract has been awarded, but before the start of construction, the City will hold a public meeting with residents and businesses. Construction staging and detour routes have been planned to minimize the disruption to residents and businesses. City staff and the contractor will explain the plans, be open to concerns and comments and address them.

I-15 / La Mesa / Nisqualli Interchange Questions and Answers

Update as of 9/7/2010

1.Describe the scope of the project

A new full service interchange on I-15 between the Bear Valley Road and Palmdale Road interchanges. The northbound exit and entrance ramps will connect with Nisqualli Road. The southbound exit and entrance ramps will connect with Amargosa Road. The new bridge will have 3 through lanes in each direction with double left turn lanes.

 

2.Why is the project needed and how will the project benefit the people that live in this area?

Primarily this project is needed to relieve traffic congestion on two east-west routes, Bear Valley Road and Highway 18. It will also provide much needed access between the Bear Valley Road and Palmdale Road interchanges.

 

3.What is the importance of the project?

This project is important to the whole Victor Valley, not just Victorville, but Apple Valley, Hesperia, Adelanto and the County. The added access and congestion relief will be a benefit to a large area and to many of the people that live here.

 

4.How has the population increase in Victorville and the surrounding areas affected the need to build this project?

With the population increase, the traffic demands have grown with it almost proportionately. There has been a decrease in traffic with the economic downturn, but eventually the traffic volumes will increase again. This underscores the need for the interchange.

 

5.What is the population in Victorville now and what was it when you began working on the project?

The Victorville population now is around 112,000 people it was around 64,000 in 2000 when the Project Study Report was started.

 

6.Where are you in terms of beginning construction?

We anticipate that construction will start in early 2011. This depends on construction funding approval and obtaining legal possession of several properties in the fall of 2010.

 

7.Did you have to purchase homes, businesses, etc?

Yes several. There are a total of 48 parcels that we needed right of way (permanent property takes), permanent easements or temporary easements from. We had to relocate one family to a different home and six businesses. There are two billboards that required removal. We had to take property from the County Flood Control District. We also had to take part of the property, including parking, from a public school district facility and a private church and school.

 

8.Has the project increased in cost because it has taken a long time to build?

Yes. Although the Caltrans index for construction costs have declined since 2006 and decreased by about 13% for last year, the years before that had big increases. Highway construction costs almost doubled from 2002 to 2006.

 

9.How will this project impact the Victorville economy?

SANBAG estimated an immediate direct creation of 650 jobs and an indirect creation of 1,625 jobs. Over 70 percent of the direct and indirect jobs created as a result of the project will be in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and retail trade fields, providing additional employment opportunities for low-income workers.