High Desert Corridor
The High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Authority recently released a Request for Proposal seeking services from engineering consultant firms to develop and manage the major effort to construct a new freeway/expressway known as the High Desert corridor (HDC) from State Route 14 in the City of Palmdale to Interstate 15 in the City of Victorville, a total of approximately 50 miles. For more information, go to the JPA’s website: http://www.sbcounty.gov/trans/high_desert_corridor.html.
The City of Victorville secured Federal Demonstration funds for the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase of the High Desert Corridor project. The project realigns State Route 18 to a new alignment from Joshua Road in the Town of Apple Valley to US-395 in the City of Adelanto. The new facility will be a four-lane expressway between SR 18/Joshua Road and I-15, and six-lane freeway between I-15 and US-395. The project is the first phase of the eventual High Desert Corridor linking the Victor Valley to the Antelope Valley.
The project is jointly funded by the City of Victorville and Town of Apple Valley, using Federal Demonstration and Measure I funds. The City of Victorville is the lead agency. Preparation of the PA&ED began in 2003 and is scheduled to be completed in August 2007.
No funding has been secured for future phases of the project, including the design phase, which is scheduled to begin immediately after the end of PA&ED. The Expenditure Plan for the proposed continuation of Measure I beyond its 2010 expiration includes funding for various High Desert projects, including the High Desert Corridor. This funding is contingent upon voter approval of the Measure’s continuation in November 2004.
For more information about the High Desert Corridor project, please contact the City of Victorville at (760) 955-5000.
Existing Infrastructure
State Route 18 is a two-lane street with a continuous center turn lane in the Town of Apple Valley and City of Victorville (D Street). When SR-18 junctions with I-15, travelers must follow I-15 south to Palmdale Road, where SR-18 proceeds west. Palmdale Road is a four-lane street until it leaves the city, at which time it becomes a two-lane conventional highway until it terminates at SR-138 in Los Angeles County.
Project Information
The project will realign State Route 18 from Joshua Road in the Town of Apple Valley to US-395 in the City of Adelanto. The proposed alignment proceeds north until it nears the Apple Valley Airport, where it turns west. The alignment continues west until it links with Air Expressway near Southern California Logistics Airport in the City of Victorville and proceeds on to US-395. The new facility will be a four-lane expressway with at-grade intersections from Joshua Road to I-15, and will include an interchange at I-15. From I-15 to US-395, the facility will be a six-lane freeway with grade separated interchanges at Phantom East, Phantom West and either Adelanto Road or existing US-395.
Project Need
The purpose of this project is to provide a new east-west regional roadway by upgrading State Route 18 to a multi-modal expressway or freeway on a new alignment through Adelanto, Victorville and Apple Valley. The project is needed to improve accessibility, mobility and safety to benefit the economy and vitality of Victor Valley at large. It will provide the first usable segment of the proposed “High Desert Corridor” which is planned to ultimately provide a new access between Northern Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
Project Schedule
Work on the Project Approval and Environmental Document phase of the project began in January 2003 and is scheduled to be completed in August 2007.
Project Funding
The City of Victorville secured $7.5 million of Federal Demonstration funds for the Project Approval and Environmental Document phase of the project. The City of Victorville and Town of Apple Valley are using Measure I local pass-through funds to match the federal funds on the project. No future funds have been secured for future phases of the project, including the design phase which follows PA&ED. The Expenditure Plan for the proposed continuation of Measure I beyond its 2010 expiration includes funding for various High Desert projects, including the High Desert Corridor. This funding is contingent upon voter approval of the Measure’s continuation in November 2004
Project History
- January 2003: Work on PA&ED begins
- June 2004: Value Analysis completed