Caltrans earmarks $2.2 million for culvert project

IMPERIAL COUNTY — Rehabilitation of four culverts along State Route 115 near Holtville and another six along State Route 78 near Palo Verde is among $1.1 billion in State Highway Operation and Protection Program projects statewide announced by the California Transportation Commission on Monday.

Caltrans has allocated more than $2.2 million to the $2.8 million drainage project along highways 78 and 115. The plan is to replace culverts at various locations along SR-78 from east of Mitchell Camp Road to west of Stallard Road near Palo Verde, and along SR-115 from Mets Road to Blodgett Road in Holtville.

The proposed work includes replacing the culverts in-kind, replacing headwalls if needed, and miscellaneous repairs as needed.

Caltrans media information officer Edward Cartagena said the project is expected to start in November or December of this year and be completed sometime next summer. He said the work will be contracted out.

A total of 133 projects statewide were allocated funding, including $994 million for 47 fix-it-first projects funded by Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

The SB 1 funded projects will replace or improve 880 lane miles, 30 bridges, 474 congestion reducing devices, and repair 83 culverts to prevent flooding on highways.

SHOPP is the state highway system’s “fix-it-first” program that funds safety improvements, emergency repairs, highway preservation and operational highway upgrades. A significant portion of the funding for the program comes from SB 1.

Since SB 1 was signed into law in April 2017, Caltrans has repaired or replaced 115 bridges and paved nearly 1,500 lane miles of the state highway system.

“This summer, motorists are seeing our crews hard at work repairing and improving our highway’s infrastructure,” said Acting Caltrans Director Bob Franzoia. “Since SB 1 was passed, Caltrans has made progress on strengthening our transportation system and this new allocation of nearly $1 billion of SB 1 funds will be used to continue to address the backlog of repairs and upgrades.”

More information and updates on current and future projects can be found on Caltrans’ social media channels: http://www.dot.ca.gov/paffairs/social-media.html