California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) workers wield their shovels for the State Highway 99 Rehabilitation Project. 

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Gridley city officials held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 1 for the two-year rehabilitation project on the State Highway 99 corridor. The ceremony took place in the lot next to the Moose Lodge.

The panel of speakers consisted of City Administrator Elisa Arteaga, City Councilmember J. Angel Calderon, Police Chief Todd Farr, Sergio Aceves and Bikram Kahlong from Caltrans and Lt. Patrick Leach, Butte County commander of California Highway Patrol. 

Aceves indicated that the total cost for the project is $30 million, secured through grant funding.

Speakers for the State Highway 99 Rehabilitation Project groundbreaking on May 1 were Sergio Aceves from CalTrans, City Administrator Elisa Arteaga, City Councilmember J. Angel Calderon, Police Chief Todd Farr and CHP Lt. Patrick Leach.

  

“This payment will bring much needed rehabilitation to extend the service life of the roadway and also improve ride quality. We’re going to provide for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant upgrades that will make the corridor safer and more accessible for all users, including new sidewalks, and updated curb ramps and driveways,” Aceves said. “Drainage system improvements will help reduce flooding, as well as enhancing durability. We are also enhancing the corridor with landscape elements to the project that benefits both functionality and aesthetics. These visionary improvements were a collaborative effort with the community. It is a project that’s going to benefit everybody in this community.”

Aceves said that he and his staff have met with local business owners, conducting site visits, project walk-throughs and community open houses for community feedback. 

City Administrator Arteaga thanked everyone who worked together to make this project possible.

“Our partners at Caltrans, our city staff, Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) staff, the agencies who supported our grant funding efforts and dedicated staff who worked hard to move the project forward. Special thanks to our City Council and community members for their continued support,” Arteaga said. “Today’s groundbreaking marks a major investment in Gridley’s future, because it reflects what collaboration and persistence can accomplish. While we celebrate this milestone, I want to assure you that this is just the beginning, making sure that Gridley is safer, stronger and ready for the future.”

Gridley City Councilmember J. Angel Calderon explains how a friend of his was killed on State Highway 99, due to poor lighting.

Councilmember Calderon addressed the sore need for additional safety on State Highway 99.

“This project is really close to my heart, due to the fact that there’s a lot of blood on this highway, between here and W. Liberty Road,” Calderon said. “I personally lost a friend of mine on this highway in December 2021 due to poor lighting. He was hit by a truck and we couldn’t celebrate Christmas with him. I’ve also witnessed a number of near accidents in this area.”

Police Chief Farr encouraged everyone to be patient and respectful with the work.

The concluding speaker was Lt. Leach, who emphasized driver awareness in work zones.

“As this project progresses, we ask all drivers, stay off your phones, maintain safe following distance, slow down when approaching and driving through construction zones,” Leach cautioned. “Recognize that construction zones represent unique challenges: narrow lanes, reduced speed limits, workers on foot, and heavy machinery moving in different directions than the normal flow of traffic. Slow for the cone zone.”