Gov. Newsom announces major infrastructure push worth nearly $2 billion to repair wildfire and storm-damaged highways
Sacramento, California – With almost $1.7 billion in financing meant to enhance safety and resilience across the state’s extensive road network, California is making a major effort to repair its transportation system and recover from past disasters. Announced by Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Transportation Commission’s most recent funding round focuses on both urgent repairs to highways damaged by wildfires and storms, especially in Southern California, and long-term infrastructure improvements.
Part of Governor Newsom’s “Build More, Faster – For All” plan, this large investment shows a general dedication to updating California’s transportation backbone and addressing the new challenges of climate change. Restoring roads and bridges that have sustained major damage from disasters like the Los Angeles fires will consume a substantial $86.5 million of the cash. Restoring mobility in impacted areas and avoiding more disturbances for millions of drivers depend on these fixes.
The total distribution will assist a combination of significant statewide initiatives. For instance, San Diego County will spend $195.5 million restoring important portions of Interstate 805. Upgrades to road and drainage systems, as well as the inclusion of new bike paths and a pedestrian bridge—features meant to make local mobility both safer and more accessible, are part of the project.
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Elsewhere, $129 million will replace the Cordelia Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility on Interstate 80 near Fairfield. This improvement is meant to increase efficiency and safety for commercial traffic along an important freight route.
Millions in the Los Angeles region are being sent to repair infrastructure affected by recent wildfires. One project allocates $30 million to restore slope protection and retaining walls close to Big Rock Road in Malibu. Rebuilding hillsides above State Route 1 close Mulholland Drive—areas destabilized by the Palisades Fire and severe rain—will be another component of the initiative.
“Investments made today support Caltrans’ mission to build and maintain a transportation system that helps Californians now and decades into the future,” said Mike Keever, Acting Director for Caltrans. “This funding translates into safer travel, more accessible mobility options and strengthening our roadways to protect all travelers during extreme weather events.”
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A mix of state and federal funds makes the financing possible. Senate Bill 1, also known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, accounts for nearly $655 million of the roughly $5 billion yearly California transportation project funding. A groundbreaking federal program, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 is providing around $567 million. It has already directed almost $62 billion into California’s infrastructure, hence supporting road, bridge, and transit improvements and generating more than 170,000 jobs around the state.
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California is trying not only to repair what is broken with these most recent investments but also to construct a roadway system prepared to meet the needs of a changing population and a developing climate.
For more information visit, Build.ca.gov.
