Key North County Corridor documents postponed once more

A long-awaited milestone in the North County Corridor planning process for an expressway skirting Modesto, Riverbank and Oakdale has been delayed yet again, with public release of key documents expected in January followed by a public hearing on Jan. 28.

A draft environmental study previously was promised out in the summer, then pushed to fall and later to winter as the California Department of Transportation continues its review.

The report will feature reams of information on how the road could affect people, farms and other businesses, depending on which route segments among several are chosen. After local leaders determine preferences, Caltrans would make a final route selection, perhaps in early 2017.

The $400 million, four-lane North County Corridor has evolved over several decades. Supporters look forward to a quicker, smoother east-west drive across much of the county, while critics decry losing homes, businesses and country atmosphere.

The North County Corridor is expected to resemble a freeway in the western stretch, with no stopping thanks to legitimate interchanges at McHenry Avenue, Coffee and Oakdale roads, and Roselle Avenue. But motorists would confront signal lights at several interchanges from Riverbank to Oakdale, except where leaders envision roundabouts.

An open house and public hearing has been tentatively scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St.

For more information, go to www.stancounty.com/publicworks/ncc-main.shtm.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Key North County Corridor documents postponed once more."