The city of San Luis Obispo, California, is moving forward with a $127 million project to build an interchange and bridge along Prado Road. Currently in the design phase, construction is anticipated to begin in 2029.
The City Council approved recommendations included in a Value Analysis (VA) study for the Prado Road Interchange project, implementing several changes that ultimately reduce the total cost by $20 million. The interchange is a mobility improvement component that, when completed in tandem with two related transportation infrastructure projects, will create an essential multimodal connection across the city to relieve congestion, improve connectivity and increase safety.
A major project component will be the construction of a bridge overpass carrying commuters over Highway 101. The bridge will include two vehicle lanes and two protected shared-use paths on either side of the bridge for nonmotorized travelers.
The bridge will connect to a tight-diamond partial interchange along Prado Road, extending the roadway over Highway 101. As part of the interchange portion of the project, the city will build new on- and off-ramps, add a northbound auxiliary lane, realign a nearby roadway connecting with a separate upcoming signalized interchange and add protected sidewalks and bicycle lanes along Prado Road.
The recently completed VA report detailed recommendations in the project’s design to help reduce financial burden on the city. These adjustments included using cast-in-drilled-hole columns, long-span precast girders, reduced bridge design speed and deck width and prioritization of recycled content usage. The city may also reduce traffic lane width and consolidated shared-use paths on the south side of the roadway.
Photo by Tom Shamberger from Pexels
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