The San Joaquin Council of Governments is set to host a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday in Manteca for a project on the connector between state Highways 99 and 120.
SJCOG, the planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the San Joaquin region overseeing transportation, housing and habitat conservation, said the project will improve traffic safety, reduce traffic congestion, better the movement of good and transportation for people, and cut greenhouse gas emissions to improve air quality.
The event will be held at the Crossroads Grace Community Church, located at 1505 Moffat Blvd. at 9:30 a.m.
The Caltrans website states that the purpose of the project is to reconstruct the existing Highway 99/120 interchange, but due to funding constraints, the project will be done in three phases.
Phase one will be widening the eastbound Highway 120 to southbound Highway 99 connector, building the Austin Road and Union Pacific separation structure, realigning the at-grade crossing and constructing local roads for access.
Next, they will widen the northbound Highway 99 to westbound Highway 120 connector and the last phase will complete the Austin Road interchange and complete the local road improvements.
According to the project schedule, it will be completed by winter 2025.
Speakers for the event include U.S. Rep. Josh Harder, D-Stockton, Lathrop Mayor and SJCOG board chair Sonny Dhaliwal, Stockton Mayor and SJCOG board vice chair Kevin Lincoln, San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman, Manteca Mayor Gary Singh, Ripon Mayor Leo Zuber and Tracy Mayor Nancy Young, Caltrans District 10 chief of rural planning Gregoria Ponce, and SJCOG executive director Diane Nguyen.
