Part of McHenry Avenue is still just 2 lanes. Modesto-area drivers will see a change
Construction could start in August on widening 1.7 miles of McHenry Avenue north of Modesto.
This stretch between Ladd Road and the Stanislaus River is one of the last portions of McHenry that is still only two lanes.
The $22.3 million project will provide four traffic lanes, a center lane for left turns, and eight-foot shoulders for bicycles.
Stanislaus County Public Works will open bids from contractors June 3, Deputy Director Chris Brady said. The project could break ground in late August or early September and take about two years, he said.
McHenry is one of the Modesto area’s most-traveled routes. It is four lanes from Needham Street to Briggsmore Avenue, six lanes from Briggsmore to Union Avenue, four lanes from Union to Kiernan Avenue, and two lanes to the river.
After the upcoming project, the only two-lane part of McHenry will be between Kiernan and Ladd. It is part of state Highway 108. The California Department of Transportation has no widening planned, spokeswoman Nicole Mowers said.
The upcoming project will tie into the four-lane bridge completed over the Stanislaus in 2019. This is the main route between Modesto and Escalon and an alternative when other river bridges are congested.
The county is tapping several local, state and federal sources for the project. This includes $2.6 million from Measure L, the sales tax increase approved by county voters in 2016.
The contractor will do the work in two stages. During the first, traffic will remain on the current pavement while new lanes are built on the east side. Drivers will then switch to that side while the old pavement is replaced.
During construction, drivers will continue to have access to homes and businesses along McHenry, “although intermittent short-term closures can be expected,” a county brochure said. The project area includes the Del Rio Country Club.
Ladd becomes Patterson Road east of McHenry and is a key route to and from Riverbank and Oakdale.
This story was originally published May 15, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
