The streets of Bakersfield will be experiencing a lot of changes in the upcoming months. Several projects by the Thomas Road Improvement Program are moving forward despite some controversy surrounding some of the plans.
As Bakersfield continues to grow the city is working toward making the roads less congested and more accessible for drivers. Many homeowners who live in the construction paths of a couple of projects are getting offers on their homes as the progress speeds up.
It seems like anywhere you turn in Bakersfield there are cones, caterpillars and construction workers. After years of discussing and planning, 11 TRIP projects are in various stages of development.
"All these projects we're designing now and upcoming they all have to be designed so they provide adequate traffic servicing 20 years our from opening day," said Ted Wright, program manager for the city of Bakersfield.
Five projects are in design and right-of-way with at least 95% of the plans complete for each project.
One of those projects- the controversial 24th Street-State Route 178 widening that will demolish 23 homes on the North side of the Westchester community. But that project won't be completed for quite some time.
"It would take a year and a half to design the project and another year and a half to construct the project so probably three years," Wright said.
Two projects are undergoing environmental review including the Centennial Corridor. The appraisal process is underway for the some 73 property owners who want to proceed with the project and TRIP officials are looking forward to moving forward.
"I don't know if we're satisfied with the progress we always like to keep moving along as quick as we can but we're happy where we're at," Wright said.
The draft environmental document for the Centennial Corridor is expected to be ready for the public later this month. A CALTRANS public hearing for that project is planned for late May.
Completion for extending the Westside Parkway to Renfro Road continues to be late this year.
As Bakersfield continues to grow the city is working toward making the roads less congested and more accessible for drivers. Many homeowners who live in the construction paths of a couple of projects are getting offers on their homes as the progress speeds up.
It seems like anywhere you turn in Bakersfield there are cones, caterpillars and construction workers. After years of discussing and planning, 11 TRIP projects are in various stages of development.
"All these projects we're designing now and upcoming they all have to be designed so they provide adequate traffic servicing 20 years our from opening day," said Ted Wright, program manager for the city of Bakersfield.
Five projects are in design and right-of-way with at least 95% of the plans complete for each project.
One of those projects- the controversial 24th Street-State Route 178 widening that will demolish 23 homes on the North side of the Westchester community. But that project won't be completed for quite some time.
"It would take a year and a half to design the project and another year and a half to construct the project so probably three years," Wright said.
Two projects are undergoing environmental review including the Centennial Corridor. The appraisal process is underway for the some 73 property owners who want to proceed with the project and TRIP officials are looking forward to moving forward.
"I don't know if we're satisfied with the progress we always like to keep moving along as quick as we can but we're happy where we're at," Wright said.
The draft environmental document for the Centennial Corridor is expected to be ready for the public later this month. A CALTRANS public hearing for that project is planned for late May.
Completion for extending the Westside Parkway to Renfro Road continues to be late this year.