I-10 Express Lanes Plans, Specifications and Estimates

Prime Consulting Solutions for an 11-mile Highway Widening Project in San Bernardino, CA

Challenge

When the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) took on a $796 million project to deliver one express lane in each direction from the I-15 in the City of Ontario to Pepper Avenue in the City of Colton, challenges related to roadway design and construction staging/traffic handling plans had to be resolved to successfully deliver improvements to the 11-mile corridor. Other project goals include four new or extended acceleration/deceleration lanes, new sound walls, and retaining walls, the widening of seven bridges, and reconstruction of two bridges. To support the tolling infrastructure, a fiber optic trunkline was constructed, and trash capture devices were implemented to meet Caltrans stormwater requirements. Right-of-way was a key issue on this project due to the corridor being constrained by the I-10 Channel to the north and a Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) rail facility to the south.

Solution

TRC delivered the Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) in two packages: Segment 2A (I-15 to Sierra Avenue) and Segment 2B (Sierra Avenue to Pepper Avenue). To minimize traffic impacts and accommodate a high index of commercial traffic on the I-10, traffic in the first stage was shifted to the inside shoulder to allow the outside widening of the highway. In the second stage, traffic was shifted to the newly widened outside shoulder, accommodating the inside widening. In the third and final stage, tolling infrastructure was constructed within the shoulder of I-10 where necessary. Through this, we tackled all aspects of roadway design, including highway design, drainage design, retaining walls, sound walls, and quality management. These designs included drainage and fiber optic facilities constructed within the shoulder of I-10 where necessary to avoid right-of-way impacts. We also delivered the construction staging/traffic handling plans, signing and pavement delineation plans, electrical systems plans, and Transportation Management Plan.

Results

We worked closely with SBCTA, Caltrans District 8, and UPRR to successfully reduce right-of-way impacts and throwaway costs, reduce travel lanes to 11-foot-widths to maintain the existing number of travel lanes throughout construction, and ensure consistency between all sets of plans and phases. Additionally, we kept efficient communication with the drainage and electrical teams to ensure all facilities were delivered with no conflict.