Contact |
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For Immediate Release: Feb. 16, 2007 |
Cheryl Donahue |
Public invited to Open House on Feb. 26 to
comment on proposed realignment of US-395
San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) will host a public Open House on February 26 in Phelan to provide information and offer an opportunity for comment on the proposed realignment of US Highway 395 through the Victor Valley.
The Open House will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of Quail Valley Middle School, 10058 Arrowhead Road in Phelan. Visitors may view maps and ask questions about three options that are being proposed for the possible future alignment of a 22-mile section of this highway between Hesperia and Adelanto. Written comment cards will be provided for visitors to complete.
The meeting is one of the first steps in the Environmental Impact Report that SANBAG is conducting. The goals of the EIR are to carefully study each alignment option, obtain public comments, reach consensus on a preferred alternative and ask each affected jurisdiction to include the alignment in their General Plans so that right-of-way can be preserved for the future realignment of the highway.
Other opportunities for public participation in the project include calling the toll-free information line, 1-877-HWY-395R (1-877-499-3957), visiting the SANBAG website at www.sanbag.ca.gov and clicking on Active Projects, or writing SANBAG at 1170 W. 3rd Street, 2nd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92410-1715. Additional meetings will be held often during the next 12 months while the EIR is underway.
The actual construction of a realigned US-395 is many years away. Caltrans is conducting a full Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for a 44-mile segment of US-395 from Hesperia to just north of Kramer Junction. That full EIR/EIS will involve more detailed study of at least five proposed alignments and will take an additional three years to complete, compared to the EIR that SANBAG is preparing for right-of-way preservation. A very rough estimate of the start of construction for the highway realignment is 2015-2020 if funding becomes available.