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City studies Highway 46 and Union Road interchange options 

highway-46-union-road-interchange

City looking for cost-effective circulation improvements

–The Paso Robles City Council and city staff held a workshop Thursday night to study the future of traffic circulation for the northeast area of the city. Approximately twelve people from public also attended the workshop.

City of Paso Robles Community Development Director Warren Frace said the study session was about the future of the northeast side of the city, “The City Council will be reviewing the history of Highway 46 improvement projects and technical studies in conjunction with the city’s General Plan Circulation Element. As part of the Housing Constraints and Opportunities Committee process, the city is looking for cost-effective circulation improvements around the Airport Road area.”

The area, referred to as the Northeast Quadrant, is bordered on the south by Highway 46, on the east and north by the Paso Robles Airport, and on the west by North River Road. The quadrant includes residential communities, schools, several businesses, the Golden Hills Plaza, the airport and the proposed Erskine Industrial Park, which was approved by the city council in August. The Erskine project, as well as any additional development in the quadrant require the city to revisit the General Plan Circulation Element that was approved by the city council in April 2011.

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An 46E over crossing linking Union Road with Erskine Parkway is one alternative being considered by the city.

The city is considering whether or not to build a freeway interchange and overpass over 46 East, at a cost of more than $30 million, that would connect Union Road with the eastern segment of the Northeast Quadrant. Thursday night’s presentation by Frace included three alternatives for such a crossing:

  • An over crossing connecting Union Road and the proposed Erskine Parkway over 46 East
  • A half clover-leave exchange providing the same connection
  • A two-lane road along the HuerHuero Creek running under the 46 East bridge. Frace said there is enough room for the road to avoid the 100 year flood plain and provide sufficient truck clearance. There is not access directly to or from 46E. Access will be from Union and Airport roads. The west bound left run lane from 46E onto Union will be closed.
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A two lane road running under the 46E bridge is also being considered.

The city has designated Dallons Drive and Wisteria Lane roads as east-west parallel routes and Buena Vista Drive and Golden Hill Road as north-south parallel routes. Once completed, the Erskine Parkway would intersect with Dry Creek Road at Airport and provide another parallel route with access to 46E from Jardine Road. Wisteria and Dallon would also intersect with the parkway. Buena Vista Drive intersects with  Dallon Road on the east side and with River Oaks Drive on the west side.

Lynne Gamble, a River Oaks resident, said she is concerned about an increase in truck traffic in her neighborhood and asked the city council for a plan to prevent large trucks with trailers from driving over neighborhood streets. Gamble said this is already happening as trucks pull off of 46E at Buena Vista and instead of heading directly back onto the freeway, the drivers pass through the neighborhood to reroute back to the highway. “I’m concerned they are going to overdevelop the whole area and we reach capacity. Then what?” said Gamble. In a private interview Gamble said she has seen trucks pulling trailers marked “flammable” driving through her neighborhood.

No action was taken by the council or the city at Thursday’s meeting because it was a workshop to bring council up to date on traffic circulation as it pertains to the Northeast Quadrant. Frace said the General Plan Circulation Element would need to be amended by the council before any road improvements can be made and any projects would need more study. Further recommendations will be brought to the city council at an undetermined future date.

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About the author: Reporter Jackie Iddings

Jackie Iddings is a contributing reporter and photographer for the Paso Robles Daily News.