The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved $82 million toward two critical infrastructure projects in Stanislaus County that will improve safety, mobility and quality of life.
Two weeks ago, the CTC unanimously approved $15 million toward replacing the Seventh Street Bridge, built in 1916, which is severely deteriorated and is no longer safe for heavy vehicles. The four-ton weight limit means school buses and fire trucks cannot pass over it.
Replacing the 1,170-foot span bridge has been a priority for the city of Modesto and Stanislaus County officials, but the project has lacked the full funding needed to move forward. With this $15 million state grant, construction is now set to begin next spring. The project could be completed by the winter of 2027-28.
Also approved was $67 million for the State Route 132 extension west of Modesto, closing the funding gap and allowing both projects to move forward.
In letters sent to CTC Executive Director Tanisha Taylor last November, State Senator Alvarado-Gil urged full support for the Seventh Street Bridge Replacement Project and the State Route 132 West Gates to Dakota Project.
“Our community has waited long enough,” said Senator Alvarado-Gil. “These are more than just road projects. They are investments that ensure families can get to schools, jobs, essential services, and that first responders can save lives. I thank Executive Director Taylor and the California Transportation Commission for recognizing the urgency and committing the necessary funding.”
The Highway 132 extension will cost $117 million and build five new miles of expressway between Dakota Avenue and Gates Road west of Modesto, easing congestion and improving safety on a corridor that serves thousands of drivers and carries significant freight from Central Valley farms. The project will take pressure off local streets and create a more efficient connection to Highway 33 and Interstate 5.
Besides the latest allocation of $67 million, the project will be funded Measure L tax dollars, local county funds, State Transportation Improvement Program, State Trade Corridor Enhancement Program and Federal Earmark funds.
The 132 extension project is expected to begin construction in the fall of 2026 and completed in the fall of 2028.
Stanislaus County Public Works Director David Leamon said the estimate to replace the bridge is now at $103 million plus another $5 million in county costs for the future signal at Seventh Street and Crows Landing Road and city of Modesto costs of approximately $6.2 million for upgrades to the Seventh / Tuolumne / B Street intersection. The city is paying $10.7 million and the county match is $8.7 million.
The wait for funding has caused considerable cost increases. In 2021 the county estimated that the bridge replacement would cost $50 million. In 2024 that cost was pegged at $75 million.
In her letter to CTC Chairwoman Tanisha Taylor, Alvarado-Gil said the cantilevered concrete arched bridge has “significant structural and hydraulic deficiencies and has a Sufficiency Rating of 2 out of 100. As such, the vehicle weight has been restricted to four tons gross load since 1979, restricting emergency vehicles, trucks, and bus transit from using the facility. These deficiencies make the bridge vulnerable to storm and seismic events that could potentially cause catastrophic failure. The existing two-lane bridge also has functional deficiencies due to its inadequate width, lack of bicycle facilities and narrow sidewalks. As the risk for catastrophic bridge failures increases and the vulnerability for pedestrians and cyclists remain a concern, this project is critical for the safety of my constituents and those who utilize adjacent roadways, such as the State Route 99 freeway.”
The replacement bridge will be considerably wider than the present bridge also will include bike lanes, a multi-use path on the west side of the bridge, and standard sidewalk on the east side of the bridge; including two standard travel lanes in each direction with a raised median.
The concrete lions at either end of the bridge will be saved for a historical plaza.
