MANTECA, CA — Commuters, freight haulers, and casual travelers moving through a vital transportation hub in Northern California are in for a safer, smoother ride with the completion of the San Joaquin Council of Governments’ (SJCOG) State Route 99/120 Connector project.
SJCOG and its partners officially celebrated the opening of improvements that are part of a massive infrastructure transformation. SJCOG, which represents the region’s eight cities and San Joaquin County, for the first time in its history took the lead in a construction project because of its regional significance.
The $50 million construction project over the past two years tackled one of the region’s busiest transportation hubs and modernized aging infrastructure to handle the growing demands of Northern California’s population and economy. The improvements to the interchange — a meeting point for freight and people movement, emergency response, and economic activity — promise safer driving conditions, reduced traffic congestion, shorter commute times, and lower greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner air for the entire region.
“This project will greatly improve traffic safety, mobility, and connectivity for the entire region,” Stockton Mayor and SJCOG Board Chair Christina Fugazi said. “This is more than just pavement, concrete, and steel. It’s about improving a crucial transportation hub to move people and goods more efficiently to support the region’s economic vitality.”
The highway-to-highway State Route 99/120 Connector serves as a crucial economic artery for the entire Northern California Megaregion, linking local drivers, agricultural transport, and interstate commerce. Major work completed since construction began in 2024 included:
| Your local Trimble Construction Division dealer |
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| SITECH Southwest |
| SITECH West |
| SITECH Southwest |
| SITECH West |
| SITECH Southwest |
| SITECH West |
- Capacity expansion: A dedicated lane was added to the high-traffic State Route 120 connector ramp leading to southbound State Route 99, relieving congestion and reducing commute times.
- New bridge: The 1950s-era Austin Road overcrossing was taken down and replaced with a longer, wider structure, expanding from two to four lanes, and spanning a new State Route 99 lane and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
- Surface street upgrades: East Woodward Avenue was expanded from two to four lanes. New median improvements, streetlights, an upgraded railroad crossing, and more were added.
- Enhanced connectivity: A new street, Singh Road, was built between Austin Road and East Atherton Drive to maintain direct access to Moffat Boulevard.
The upgrades will deliver a lasting, positive impact for decades, with benefits being felt now.
“We’re already seeing a shift these improvements are having on our region with better traffic flow on State Routes 99 and 120, and on nearby surface streets,” Manteca Mayor and SJCOG Vice Chair Gary Singh said. “These improvements are a catalyst for expanding and strengthening the regional economy in ways we haven’t seen before.”
The improvements are a regional investment that supports how San Joaquin County moves, works, trades, and grows, with benefits reaching beyond the interchange to the entire region.
| Your local Gomaco dealer |
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| Terry Equipment |
| Terry Equipment |
| Terry Equipment |
Measure K, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax dedicated to San Joaquin County transportation improvements, was a key funding source for the project, in combination with other local, state, and federal sources. Mark Thomas engineered the project, Teichert Construction built the improvements, and WSP managed the work. Project partners also included the California Department of Transportation and the City of Manteca.
Photos courtesy of the San Joaquin Council of Governments
