The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) today broke ground on the State Route 99/120 Connector project to improve mobility for trucks and cars, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality for a vital highway-to-highway transportation hub.
For the first time in its history, SJCOG is leading the construction project and coordinating with Caltrans, City of Manteca and Union Pacific Railroad. SR 99/120 in Manteca is crucial for moving people and goods throughout the Northern California Megaregion. The groundbreaking for the project took place within sight of where the first phase of improvements is scheduled to begin in August and completed by summer 2026.
“SJCOG is harnessing the power of collaboration to reach this key milestone,” Lathrop Mayor and SJCOG Chair Sonny Dhaliwal said. “We’re bringing together our member agencies and public and private partners to build this highway-to-highway connector to serve the transportation needs of everyone who lives, works and travels in San Joaquin County. We are very happy to be breaking ground on this project.”
Funding for the project comes from a combination of sources, including Measure K, the half-cent sales tax managed by SJCOG for transportation improvements in San Joaquin County, State Bill 1, State Transportation Improvement Program, Caltrans’ State Highway Operation and Protection Program, federal COVID-19 relief money, and federal Highway Infrastructure Program funds.
The SJCOG Board at its May meeting awarded a $48.2 million contract to Teichert Construction to build the first phase. Mark Thomas designed the improvements and WSP will manage the construction.
Joining Dhaliwal in marking the occasion were U.S. Rep. Josh Harder, SJCOG Board members Manteca Mayor Gary Singh, San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman, Ripon Mayor Leo Zuber, Tracy Mayor Nancy Young, SJCOG Vice Chair and Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, Caltrans District 10’s Acting Deputy Director of Planning, Local Assistance and Environmental Support Gregoria Ponce, and SJCOG Executive Director Diane Nguyen.
“This project has been a top priority at the San Joaquin Council of Governments. The SJCOG Board of Directors recognized these improvements were essential to move people and goods within the region and across county borders,” Nguyen said.
Visit the State Route 99/120 Connector website to view a video of the first phase of the project, which includes:
- A new road will be built between Austin Road and East Atherton Drive, local traffic will remain on existing roadways, and eastbound State Route 120 will be closed several nights for construction. Traffic will be detoured off at Main Street to Moffat Boulevard.
- The Austin Road overcrossing will be removed, and both the Austin Road and East Woodward Avenue railroad crossings will remain open. The freeway ramps will remain open and the major daytime construction on the connector ramp will continue without freeway closures.
- East Woodward Avenue will be closed so it can be made four lanes and to construct new railroad gates. Local traffic will detour to Austin Road.
- The new four-lane East Woodward Avenue will open and Austin Road will be closed between Singh Street and Moffat Boulevard. Work to widen State Route 99 will begin and there will be freeway lane closures. The southbound State Route 99 exit to Moffat Boulevard will be closed occasionally and the northbound State Route 99 entrance ramp from Austin Road will remain open.
- The State Route 120 connector ramp will be completed and the replacement for the Austin Road overcrossing will be built. There will be some evening lane closures with traffic detoured using existing freeway ramps and Moffat Boulevard.
Project updates can be found by visiting SR99-120conector.com, signing up for email updates, calling the project hotline at (209) 209-4690, or emailing the project team at 99-120connector@sjcog.org. Questions or messages to the project team also can be sent via an electronic form on the website.