• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About

132 Freeway Will Be an Environmental Disaster

July 21, 2017 By admin 1 Comment

More traffic on the way?

Environmentalists are notorious about opposing freeway projects , but the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations have been quiet about the 132 freeway plan. Either the project has not caught their attention or they just don’t care about the  Valley because local politics are dominated by anti-environment interest groups. Regardless of the reasons for political silence, a discussion is needed because the 132 freeway will be a disaster.

Wildlife Refuge

State Route 132 runs through a wildlife refuge where it crosses the San Joaquin River flood plain. A multitude of bird species and other wildlife inhabit the refuge, which floods during wet years. The freeway project will bring thousands of more cars daily through the wetlands, diverting Bay Area traffic from freeways 99, 120, and 205.  No environmental impact study has been done for sensitive species since 2003 or earlier. Caltrans simply made a negative declaration in its environmental impact report.

Route 132 is a winding levee road through the wildlife refuge. Impact on the levee itself from added traffic was not considered because that section of roadway will not be improved during the first phase of the freeway construction project.

More Traffic Congestion

The first phase of the Route 132 Freeway Project will only build from Freeway 99 west to Dakota Road. Like a dam breaking, the project will release a flood of cars onto a two lane facility and then route traffic onto the old road at Dakota Avenue.  Already congested during rush hour, the new route will add more cars and trucks, increase air pollution and noise all along the route, and result in a torturous driving experience.

Proponents say that the new facility will shorten travel time from Modesto to the Bay Area.  Added congestion will more than offset any benefit of the new roadway. Travel time will increase due to congestion; more traffic will result in more artery clogging delays from accidents.

The Caltrans philosophy is to create more congestion so that more money can be secured to build more roads. By making Route 132 more congested, the logic goes, more money will come sooner to build more freeways. Degradation of the environment is not a consideration.

Building Over a Toxic Waste Dump

On the east end of the 132 Freeway project, Caltrans plans to build on top of a toxic waste dump currently in the right of way near Emerald Avenue in Modesto.  The thinking is if concrete is put on top, no one will notice the dump. Caltrans says the proposal is a safe way of handling toxic waste, ignoring the fact that concrete deteriorates over time and that water will eventually seep into the dump and endanger groundwater.

In time, everyone will forget that the dump exists.  Who cares about the health of future generations anyway?

More Congestion

At the intersection of the 132 Freeway and 99 Freeway, Caltrans will not be building a flyover from northbound 99 to westbound 132.  Instead, traffic will exit to a signalized intersection at Needham and Franklin Avenues and then turn west onto route 132.  The intersection will be congested as large numbers of vehicles from three arterials will need to go through it, including Kansas Avenue, Needham Avenue, and the 99 Freeway.  The congestion will delay motorists and add to air pollution.

Further Delays

Currently, the only traffic signal between Interstate 580 and Carpenter Road is at Hart Road.  During rush hour, the back-up and delay at the signal can be considerable.  The new project will add signals at Dakota and the new freeway (presently called expressway until it is upgraded to a freeway in 10-20 years) and at Dakota and Maze.  Imagine how two new signals will degrade traffic, add to travel time and add air pollution.

Why Do This Project?

Given the amount of environmental degradation, added traffic congestion, and added travel time this “road improvement” will cause, why would anyone want the project built  with the current planned configuration?

Considering the project was originally planned over 50 years ago, the delay in starting was not only warranted, but continues to be justified. Caltrans says it can’t do a better project because not enough money is available to build it right.  If it can’t be done right, why do it at all?

 

Filed Under: Environment, Featured Tagged With: Highway 132 barium, Highway 132 expansion, Highway 132 Freeway Project

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bruce Frohman says

    July 22, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    Caltrans has just installed a traffic signal at Route 132 and Kasson Road/River Road, just west of the San Joaquin River. The intersection will cause greater congestion on the 132 corridor. If a Freeway is planned, why wasn’t an interchange built? The Caltrans answer is that a signal is cheaper. However, in the long run, the total cost to the public will be much greater. Congestion is costly, signalized intersections have more accidents, and the road will need to be improved and upgraded twice. Caltrans has gotten away with this method of waste of taxpayer money for years because no one challenges them. When was the last time you heard of any serious legislative oversight? The last review was the Bay Bridge Fiasco.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America's largest rainforest
Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America’s largest rainforest
The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, a focus of political battles over old-growth logging and road-building in forests for decades, has received new protection from the Biden administration.
theconversation.com
As California?s climate heats up, Valley fever spikes ? especially on Central Coast
As California’s climate heats up, Valley fever spikes, especially on Central Coast
Because the fungus that causes the disease spreads easily in hot, arid conditions, the number of cases will grow, UC Berkeley study says
www.mercurynews.com
Activists sue to block Newsom's homeless mental illness treatment program
Activists sue to block Newsom’s homeless mental illness treatment program
Gov. Gavin Newsom championed compelled mental health treatment for homeless Californians. Now, activists are trying to stop it before it gets off the ground.
sjvsun.com
The Rise of Spirit Warriors on the Christian Right
The Rise of Spirit Warriors on the Christian Right
How an extreme transformation in American religion poses an existential threat to our democracy
newrepublic.com
Gimme Shelter: Mayor Karen Bass on homelessness and the California housing crisis
Gimme Shelter: Mayor Karen Bass on homelessness and the California housing crisis
Liam Dillon and Ben Oreskes of the L.A. Times interview Mayor Karen Bass about homelessness and housing problems in California.
calmatters.org
A Water War Is Brewing Over the Dwindling Colorado River
A Water War Is Brewing Over the Dwindling Colorado River
This story first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
At Last, a Real Possibility to Avoid Catastrophic Climate Change
At Last, a Real Possibility to Avoid Catastrophic Climate Change
After decades of minimal action, Congress passed the largest and most comprehensive piece of climate legislation in U.S. history. Will we make the most of this opportunity?
www.audubon.org
ACLU sues Phoenix over homeless sweeps, citations
ACLU sues Phoenix over homeless sweeps, citations
The ACLU of Arizona has filed a lawsuit against the city of Phoenix over cleanup sweeps of homeless encampments.
www.azcentral.com
'Full-on crisis': Groundwater in California's Central Valley disappearing at alarming rate
‘Full-on crisis’: Groundwater in California’s Central Valley disappearing at alarming rate
Excessive groundwater pumping has long been depleting aquifers in California’s Central Valley. Now, scientists say the depletion is accelerating.
www.latimes.com
San Francisco?s homeless sweeps are unlawful ? and the city will pay for it
San Francisco’s homeless sweeps are unlawful and the city will pay for it
San Francisco’s campaign to remove homeless people from the streets clearly violates…
www.sfchronicle.com
A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.'s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here's why
A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.’s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here’s why
The Cecil Hotel was supposed to be an innovative new model for permanent supportive housing in L.A. Why is it struggling to fill rooms?
news.yahoo.com
Fentanyl on campus: One Bay Area school saved a student?s life. Another missed the signs of an overdose. Is your school ready?
Fentanyl on campus: One Bay Area school saved a student’s life. Another missed the signs of an overdose. Is your school ready?
Suddenly, Bay Area schools are playing a critical role in combating the alarming rise of fentanyl that is spilling onto high school campuses. But a Bay Area News Group survey found most may not be….
www.mercurynews.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design