The completion of the White Rock Road Improvement Project from Grant Line Road to Prairie City Road was marked today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This project made significant improvements along the stretch of White Rock Road that serves commuters as well as local traffic between the communities of Rancho Cordova, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, the Sacramento County unincorporated area and beyond.
Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SACDOT) Director Mike Penrose kicked off the event and spoke of the transformation of the roadway that removed sharp turns and curves that called for drivers to slow to 10 MPH at some points on the two lane road. With the completion of the project, the improvements include:
Nearly two miles of White Rock Road has been realigned between the new intersections of Grant Line and Prairie City Roads.
The road has been widened to two lanes in each direction, with new traffic signals and turning lanes, as well as paved shoulders and a raised landscaped median.
The landscaped median is unique and includes decorative hardscape with 1,370 drought tolerant plants and 78,000 square-feet of drought tolerant native grasses.
The project, which is in the eastern portion of Sacramento County, is located in Supervisor Don Nottoli’s district. He has been a longtime advocate for roadway improvements that have regional and local significance. He is also Chair of the Capital Southeast Connector Joint Powers Authority, whose mission is to reduce traffic congestion and spur economic investment from I-5 south of Elk Grove to Highway 50 in El Dorado County.
Joining his colleague at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was District 1 Supervisor Phil Serna. In his comments, Supervisor Serna was especially appreciative of the 150 jobs created by the project and that the development is a welcome addition to improving the County’s transportation system and making things better for residents, businesses and commerce.
The City of Folsom’s Mayor Kerri Howell, and Mayor Dan Skoglund of the City of Rancho Cordova also spoke at the ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of the White Rock Improvement Project.
The project construction contract was $8.5 million, and was funded by Proposition 1B State Bond program and Sacramento County Transportation Development Fees. DeSilva Gates Construction was the contractor, and additional project partners were: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Gencorp and Easton LLC; Capital Southeast Connector; and Highway 50 Corridor Mobility Partnership. The project was coordinated with Caltrans, CTC, PSOMAS, SMUD, AT&T and State Parks.
The five partner jurisdictions for the connector project – Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Eldorado County and Sacramento County – have passed unanimous resolutions supporting the alignment for the connector.
View the White Rock Improvement Project video.
Writer: Brenda Bongiorno, Communication and Media Officer