Turlock detour alert: Oddball intersection on South Golden State is being fixed
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- Stanislaus County launched a $7.53M road fix at a confusing Turlock junction.
- Berkeley Avenue crossing will be raised and realigned near Union Pacific tracks.
- Detours at Berkeley and Golf Road began and will last through October 10, 2025.
Construction is well under way on making part of South Golden State Boulevard less baffling to Turlock-area drivers.
The problem is where Berkeley Avenue crosses Golden State and becomes Golf Road. It would seem to be a simple four-way intersection. Instead, it has eight stop signs within about a 200-foot radius, including frontage roads from the time when Golden State was Highway 99.
Stanislaus County Public Works funded the $7.53 millon project from local, state and federal sources. It could be done by mid-October.
The project also will upgrade the Berkeley crossing of the Union Pacific Railroad, which parallels Golden State. The current pavement on Berkeley is about 4 feet lower than the track, a bumpy ride for drivers. It will be raised and widened at this spot.
The county Board of Supervisors approved the project June 3. It is just south of the Turlock city limit.
The street portion is being done on a $4.45 million contract with George Reed Inc. of Modesto. Union Pacific crews will fix the crossing for an additional $1.52 million. The other costs include engineering, utility relocations and inspections.
Most of the work has been done without major detours, but that changed last week. Closures will be in place until Oct. 10 where both Berkeley and Golf Road enter Golden State. The former state highway itself will remain open. It is a quick way toward downtown and east Turlock for drivers from Merced County and points south.
The project will result in one set of traffic lights on Golden State and another at Berkeley and Paulson. They will automatically shift to red when a freight train is approaching. The site already has crossing arms, bells and lights to warn drivers.
The project also will bring crosswalks to aid pedestrians and curb ramps for wheelchairs. Drivers will get left-turn pockets.
Most of the funding is from a $6.03 million federal grant. The project got $824,998 from the county’s Measure L sales tax and $620,625 from the state fuel tax. Turlock kicked in $53,000 for moving utility lines that run north into the city.
More information on the detours and other details are on the project website.
This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 11:50 AM.
