Latest milestone reached for project that will help traffic from 99 to north Merced
Local officials Friday afternoon held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Segment II and then a groundbreaking ceremony for Segment III of the Campus Parkway Project.
The Campus Parkway Project is part of Merced County’s Regional plan to improve traffic circulation between Highway 99 and growing neighborhoods and retail centers near north Merced and UC Merced.
Segment II, which included a $30 million price tag, extends the four-lane expressway from East Childs Avenue to a quarter mile past Highway 140.
The segment includes a traffic signal at Campus Parkway and East Childs Avenue, a concrete structure crossing the BNSF railroad tracks and Highway 140, and a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 140 and the “Campus Parkway Access) connector road.
“This is a major road project for the city of Merced and our region and will have a lasting positive impact on the city of Merced for generations,” Merced Mayor Mike Murphy said. “Campus Parkway is all about connectivity.”
Segment III will connect the expressway to Yosemite Avenue and is expected to be completed in June 2023.
Campus Parkway will extend 4.5 miles when completed, from East Mission Avenue to Yosemite Avenue. Segment I from Mission Avenue to East Childs Avenue was completed in 2009.
“Campus Parkway will connect to future economic centers that will help define Merced,” Murphy said.
“The Bellevue Corridor and campus community south of UC Merced are expected to develop into economic centers providing jobs and tech innovation. They will be heavy users of Campus Parkway.”
Murphy said Campus Parkway will also connect Mercy Hospital with its patients throughout Merced and Merced County.
“It now becomes a quick drive for people with appointments at the hospital and an even quicker drive for ambulances that are headed to the emergency room. Campus Parkway will connect all of us to UC Merced campus and the campus to Merced,” he said.
$100 million was secured through the Senate Bill 1 Transportation Package to fund both Segment II and III of Campus Parkway.
This story was originally published February 1, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
