West Modesto crowd voices anger at Highway 132 bypass plan

West Modesto’s King-Kennedy Memorial Center on Monday nearly burst at the seams with people, many of them passionately opposed to a future freeway that they fear could endanger their quiet homes, their health and their property values.

The restive crowd endured a slide-show update on the proposed Highway 132 bypass, with dozens standing because all seats were taken. Some had trouble hearing because there was no microphone.

Transportation officials then refused to answer questions from the audience, sparking pleas and angry shouts from many corners of the packed room.

“Listen to the voice of the people!” yelled one man as frustration mounted.

“We need to be heard!” said another.

Stanislaus County Supervisor Terry Withrow made his way to the front of the room and persuaded experts from the California Transportation Commission and Stanislaus Council of Governments to join him in answering questions for the next hour.

But it was a rocky period, and some in the audience verbally attacked him along with the others.

At one point, Modesto Councilwoman Jenny Kenoyer – who previously lived for 19 years in a west side neighborhood – was shouted down as she tried to restore order. She scolded the crowd, saying, “What you’re doing is a mob mentality.”

Some said they learned only recently that their property could be seized for the four-lane expressway, meant to provide a smoother flow from Highway 99 toward the Bay Area.

Others are concerned about barium contamination in soil scooped from the former FMC plant nearby and piled in three hills for a future raised freeway segment.

“Are you absorbing the consensus of this group? This is outcry,” said Robert Quintero, capturing the mood of much of the crowd.

Withrow said just as many would protest if a freeway were proposed elsewhere, but the crowd didn’t want to hear it. Applause was loud when someone asked why officials don’t consider widening Maze Boulevard, which doubles as Highway 132.

“They’re afraid of Gallo, that’s why!” a man shouted.

Officials have not formally dropped the larger Maze idea, but don’t favor it because it would mean sacrificing dozens of homes and businesses, while the preferred path just south of Kansas Avenue was chosen nearly 60 years ago and most of the land was acquired back then.

Caltrans’ Sam Haack said more than 700 soil samples led scientists to conclude that barium does not pose a health risk. Her agency wants to cap the berms in concrete and build the freeway on top, theoretically preventing rain from carrying the dangerous heavy metal as it seeps down to groundwater.

Many would prefer trucking away the soil and replacing it with safe earth, but officials have said that could cost millions of dollars.

Last week, officials said Caltrans would release its plan in January for dealing with the dirt. Monday, Stanislaus Council of Governments Executive Director Carlos Yamzon said it would be spring.

People then can comment, and the state Department of Toxic Substances Control will decide.

Terhesa Gamboa said it’s unbelievable that representatives of that agency, although invited, declined to attend Monday’s open house.

Construction is expected to begin in 2016 and finish in 2018, with a final phase to follow a decade later, said Tom Post of Jacobs Engineering.

The Council of Governments’ policy board is scheduled to hear a Highway 132 update at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the third-floor chamber at 1111 11th St., Modesto.

This story was originally published August 18, 2014 at 9:50 PM with the headline "West Modesto crowd voices anger at Highway 132 bypass plan."