Caltrans seeks public comments on Highway 243 plan
Caltrans is in the early stages of planning significant work on Highway 243 from Mountain Center to Banning. Planning is underway and funding has not been confirmed for the project. If it is approved, the work is likely to be lengthy and traffic control will be necessary, according to Terri Kasinga, chief of Public and Media Affairs for Caltrans District 8.
The major work on Highway 243 will likely include pavement resurfacing, culvert repair, guard rails, curbs and other roadside safety improvements.
Purpose of a public hearing on the Highway 243 project now
As part of the initial planning, Caltrans is asking the public whether it wants a public hearing on the draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Initial Study of potential environmental impacts.
The announcement asking if a public hearing should be held is occurring years before the project might start, if approved. Before specific project or design details can be made, the project planners want to address environmental compliance requirements, which can take longer and might affect construction design details.
Examples include identifying any protected species or possible nesting sites along the highway corridor. If any major issues are identified, one of the potential mitigations would be to adjust the timing of the work in that area.
Kasinga stressed that Caltran’s question about the need for a public hearing is directed to possible initial environmental documents. And she urged, “Now is the time to speak up,” about any concerns; waiting until work is about to begin will be much less fruitful.
The Draft Initial Study is being circulated for public review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); however, CEQA does not require a public hearing, thus Caltrans has not scheduled one regarding the initial environmental work.
In an email to the Town Crier, Caltrans wrote, “… offering the opportunity for a hearing … if anyone being potentially impacted by the project could further inform the results of our analysis in a public setting, they can request a public meeting or hearing be held.”
Caltrans encourages residents to share those thoughts about how the project work or length may affect them and request a public hearing during the project development process, Kasinga expressed.
Submit comments via U.S. mail to Caltrans at the Antonia Toledo, MS, Senior Environmental Planner, California Department of Transportation, 464 W. 4th Street, MS 820, San Bernardino, CA 92401-1400 or email [email protected] by Monday, March 21.
Post planning pre-construction
If the project is authorized to move into the construction design phase, and environmental issues addressed in the studies and the specific aspects of the project design, Kasinga felt there would be a community meeting to discuss the details of how construction would affect travel on Highway 243.
Preliminary construction work
Once construction is ready to begin, which Kasinga estimated may be as early as 2025 or as late as 2026, expected completion is to take 300 days. But weather, material supplies or other potential problems could lengthen the time to finish.
Caltrans has said that traffic would be limited to one lane on portions of the highway where work is underway. If work is scheduled on weekends, delays will happen then. too. Flagmen, who will control traffic, will be wherever work is active.
Examples of the safety improvements include replacing older guard rails with metal beam guard rails. Many sign panels will be replaced with newer panels meeting the current standards.
The project’s estimated cost may be in the neighborhood of $20 million, Kasinga believes.
After the February 2019 rain and flooding, several portions of Highway 243 had to be repaired or even reconstructed. According to Caltrans, no pavement work will be done in these areas; only some culverts might be replaced. Tentative plans, according to Kasinga, include replacing 33 culverts in areas along the highway that were not part of the 2019 emergency repairs.
