Interstate 215:
Mt. Vernon Avenue/Washington Street Interchange, Colton
SANBAG, Caltrans and the City of Colton are preparing a Project Study Report for the replacement of the Interstate 215 interchange at Mt. Vernon Avenue/ Washington Street. The Project Study Report is the first step of this project.
Once the Project Study Report is complete, a Project Report will be prepared. The Project Report will be combined with the preliminary engineering/environmental document phase. The preliminary engineering/environmental document phase includes a number of technical studies, such as, mapping, surveying, current and future traffic conditions, the impact to residents and property owners, the impact to sensitive plants and wildlife, public utilities, right of way that is required, and more. Once the studies are complete, the environmental document will be submitted for public review and comment, and the project will be considered for approval by Caltrans.
The project proposes to realign freeway on-ramps and off-ramps, as well as realign local streets. More detailed information will be provided in the Project Study Report. The new Mt. Vernon Avenue/Washington Street interchange will help aid traffic operations by improving the flow of vehicles on the new bridge and ramps.
The interchange will accommodate the future widening of Interstate 215 through this area. This project is being accelerated ahead of the Interstate 215 widening project to provide earlier traffic congestion relief at this interchange.
The Project Study Report is scheduled for completion by mid-2009. The preliminary engineering/environmental document phase is estimated to be completed by mid-2012. Final project design and right-of-way certification may be complete by 2014, and interchange construction could begin in 2014 and end by 2017.. These dates are estimates only and are subject to change.
Funding for this project has not been secured. Costs total approximately $84 million in 2006-2007 dollars. A portion of the project costs ($.8 million) will be funded by Measure I, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in San Bernardino County. The Riverside County Transportation Commission’s Measure A will fund $.3 million of the project. The $80.5 million balance will be financed through future local sources.