The City of Gustine has announced a partial reopening of several key streets within the SR-140/33 Roundabout project area, set to take effect on Nov. 8.
As the community has been navigating project delays and construction-related traffic disruptions, city officials prioritized a revised schedule to improve local traffic flow, allowing residents to access major intersections and roadways once again.
The following roads will be reopened to local traffic on Nov. 8:
• Intersection of 5th Street (Main St) and SR-140/33 (6th Ave)
• Northbound and Southbound Grove Ave from SR-140/33 to past South Ave
• Eastbound and Westbound South Ave from Grove Ave to East Ave
City officials emphasize that while these roads will reopen for local traffic, the construction work zone remains restricted, and unauthorized entry could result in penalties. Per California Vehicle Code § 42009, any violations within the work zone may result in double the usual fines.
Gustine City Manager Soknirorn Than expressed enthusiasm about the partial reopening, highlighting the city’s commitment to addressing the community’s needs. “We’re very excited about the progress on the roundabout and understand the community’s eagerness for it to open,” he said. “We’ve been working hard to make this possible for local traffic. While trucks will still need to follow the detour on East Avenue and Sullivan, local residents will soon have access through the reopened areas. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue working toward full completion.”
The city is working closely with the Gustine Police Department to ensure that detours for truck traffic remain in place, diverting them to East Avenue and Sullivan to alleviate congestion for residents. By limiting truck access to the work zone, local traffic will experience improved flow through reopened streets without interference from heavy vehicles.
The City of Gustine State Route 140 Pedestrian – Bicycle – Motorized Transportation Enhancement Plan consists of constructing a single lane roundabout on State Route 140/33 at the intersection of Fourth Street and Sixth Avenue on SR-33/140. Changes to the intersection also include the realignment of Railroad Avenue, the rehabilitation of underground city utilities within the project limits, and the construction of a woonerf between Ash Ave. and Railroad Ave. A woonerf is a Dutch term for a common space created to be shared by pedestrians, bicyclists, and low speed motor vehicles.
The groundbreaking and project work started in early April.
The project has been in the works for more than a decade and is a collaboration between the City of Gustine, the California Department of Transportation, Merced County Association of Governments and other agencies.
The roundabout is funded by a combination of $2.4 million in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds, $810,000 in Westside Regional Measure V funds, and $800,000 in a combination of local Measure V, City Water, and City Sewer funds. Measure V is a half-cent sales tax collected in Merced County used solely for the purposes of enhancing local transportation infrastructure. The City of Gustine, along with other local jurisdictions, receives funding for ‘local’ transportation projects but is also eligible for Measure V funding for larger ‘regional’ transportation projects.
Gustine city officials appreciate the patience and understanding shown by residents as the SR-140/33 Roundabout project progresses. The improvements and modifications within this project are expected to enhance road safety and streamline traffic in the long term, marking a significant step forward for the city’s infrastructure.
For more information, residents can review the updated local traffic detour plan provided by the city. The City of Gustine remains dedicated to communicating updates on the project as they continue working toward a full reopening in the near future.
