Officials celebrate completion of Route 60/Central Avenue Interchange

(CHINO) – A ribbon cutting was held Friday to celebrate completion of a three-year construction project to widen and reduce congestion on Central Avenue over State Route 60 in the city of Chino.

The project, jointly led by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and the city of Chino, included widening the Central Avenue bridge to accommodate three through lanes of traffic and two left turn lanes in each direction. Pedestrian safety also was enhanced with new sidewalks, ramps and curbs, and tactile sensors at intersections where crosswalks are included that meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The bridge was also modified to meet seismic requirements to ensure its safety and resilience, and aesthetic improvements were added to the bridge barrier and retaining walls, enhancing the visual appeal of the interchange.

To improve traffic flow for drivers getting on the freeway, wider on-ramps were built to offer two general purpose lanes and one carpool lane. For drivers exiting the freeway, wider off-ramps were added that offer three lanes to help drivers turn left or right onto Central Avenue.

“Projects like this are vitally important to communities experiencing population growth and show SBCTA’s commitment to building and maintaining our county’s infrastructure at all levels,” SBCTA Board President Ray Marquez said. “Together, with our partners at the city of Chino, we have delivered this project that will significantly relieve congestion in this area and improve the daily lives of everyone passing through this corridor.”

“Central Avenue provides a vital connection to services and resources, jobs and neighborhoods in Chino, and is a lifeline for many getting to and from SR 60,” Chino Mayor Eunice M. Ulloa said. “We appreciate SBCTA’s partnership and support of our efforts to improve transportation for Chino residents, businesses and visitors for generations to come.”

The cost to improve Central Avenue at the SR 60 interchange was $36.1 million and funded by the city of Chino, state of California, and SBCTA’s Measure I. Measure I is the ½ cent sales tax collected through San Bernardino County for transportation improvements.