Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

“These projects are vital to building and improving upon transportation infrastructure in the Valley,” said Cardoza. “These investments will help create new jobs and make desperately needed upgrades in heavily traveled areas.  The Central Valley is growing rapidly; I am committed to improving our quality of life by addressing these vital transportation needs.  I also want to thank Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, whose commitment to investing in the Central Valley helped make this possible.”

The measure includes $14.4 million to widen Highway 132 - which has been laden with fatal accidents in recent years - and $4 million to widen and reconstruct Arch-Sperry Road to improve the connection between Interstate 5 and Highway 99 in San Joaquin County.  The legislation also provides $2.4 million for the Campus Parkway in Merced County.

“Construction of the Campus Parkway is a critical element of the UC Merced campus,” said Cardoza.

Also included was $1.4 million for a study to build a Highway 99 interchange between Highway 165 and Bradbury Road, near the Merced-Stanislaus County border and $3 million for construction of the Virginia Corridor Trail, which will convert 4.2 miles of the Union Pacific Right of Way into a pedestrian and bicycle trail.

The $286 billion in funding contained in the bill is authorized for six years.