2nd look at Stanislaus North Corridor plan

OAKDALE — Dozens of families soon could be visited by scientists studying potential paths for the North County Corridor, people learned Wednesday at a meeting kicking off new studies for the controversial expressway.

Another key open house to gather input from anyone with an opinion will be held Monday in Salida.

Transportation leaders have been asking for comments for a couple of years, but they'll look at those from the current round with new eyes, consulting engineer Kris Balaji said Wednesday.

"It's like a brand-new project," Balaji said. "No route is preferred. We're starting from ground zero."

Previous efforts were aimed at securing $91 million previously designated for the Oakdale bypass, that was dropped in favor of the North County Corridor, which would link Highway 99 in Salida to Highway 108 east of Oakdale, bypassing Modesto on the north and Riverbank and Oakdale on the south.

With approval from state leaders in May, the focus now shifts to environmental studies to satisfy both state and federal law. That means the slate is wiped clean — and comments from previous periods must be restated and re-entered, Balaji said.

Nearly 200 people accommodated that request at Wednesday's open house, where much more detailed maps of specific potential routes were displayed for the first time.

Many asked about "permits to enter" which soon will be mailed to property owners, asking for written permission allowing scientists to look for certain plants and signs of wildlife.

Wednesday's maps presented three principal options:

• A new 25-mile freeway passing mainly through rural property, with limited access ramps.

• Improving Highway 108, with no new road.

• Improving Kiernan Avenue and its Claribel Road extension into an expressway, with an eastern stretch crossing rural property up to Highway 108.

For the first time, people saw multiple options within each of the three principal ones. At the urging of officials, several people drew other routes with colored markers on large maps, showing their preferences.

Dairy farmer Kurt Hoekstra said a printed option at the far east end would disrupt his fields, irrigated by center-pivot sprinklers, and a second would also destroy his neighbor's farm.

Both previously had urged leaders to put the road on a line separating their properties, but that seems to have fallen on deaf ears, Hoekstra said. "God only gave us so much ground to grow food on," he said.

A vocal contingent preferring the Kiernan-Claribel option showed up again Wednesday. Modesto's Joe Neal said that would spare much farmland and many homes, but wondered why leaders never seemed to acknowledge the idea before.

"At a time when lots of people are losing their homes, to kick more people out seems a bad choice," agreed Patti Iverson, who lives north of Modesto.

Others must recognize advantages to smoother driving, even if they constitute a silent majority, said Oakdale's Bill McClain.

"It would sure be nice to get something started," McClain said. "You're always going to have objections, no matter how you do it."

If leaders obtain funding, the $1.2 billion segment east of Modesto could begin a few years after 2014, when state leaders are expected to select a precise route.

Monday's open house starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Salida Library, 4835 Sisk Road. Comments may be e-mailed to gail_miller@dot.ca.gov, james_r_hammer@dot.ca.gov or machadom@co.stanislaus.ca.us, or mailed to 2015 E. Shields Ave., Suite 100, Fresno, 93726. For more information, call 948-3748 or see www.dot.ca.gov/dist10.

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.