Published: Jun 28, 2024

District: District 11 - San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact: John Garcia
Phone: (619) 688-6670

IMPERIAL COUNTY - Caltrans announced the reopening of all lanes of State Route 98 between W. Birch and E. Birch Streets and Imperial Avenue due to the completion of improvements to the highway. This marks the last phase of $70 million infrastructure investments in Calexico.

"We thank Calexico and the Mexicali-Imperial region for their patience during construction," said Everett Townsend, Acting District 11 Director. "This project brings the binational vision of efficient cross border mobility between California and Baja California closer to reality."

"These infrastructure improvements will accelerate binational economic opportunities, relieve daily border congestion, and expand a wide range of other resident benefits while paving the way for additional growth and development in Imperial Valley," said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia. "We applaud this momentous Caltrans, Imperial County Transportation Commission, and City of Calexico project as a crucial component of a larger $70 million transportation investment in our region and thank all the partners who joined us to make this possible."

"We are thrilled to announce the early completion of the HWY 98 project," said Imperial County Chairman Luis A. Plancarte. "This milestone reflects the dedication and commitment of Caltrans and our partners in delivering crucial infrastructure improvements. This project is a testament to our commitment to enhancing transportation in our community, and we deeply appreciate the patience and support of our residents throughout this process."

"On behalf of the citizens of Calexico, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Caltrans, the State of California and everyone involved in the successful completion of State Route 98 widening project, despite the challenges and delays along the way," said Calexico Mayor Camilo Garcia. "The hard work that went into this project has not gone unnoticed, and we are thrilled to see this important infrastructure enhancement come to fruition. The completion of this project will have a significant positive impact on our community. It will improve traffic flow, enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians alike, and pave the way for economic opportunities in our region."

The $7.2 million improvements to SR-98 included pavement resurfacing, new turn lanes, drainage systems, bicycle lanes, streetlights, and pedestrian ramps in Calexico. This is new infrastructure supports walking and biking. It also improves cross border movement between California and Mexico, California's number one trading partner.

The project was one in a series of improvement by Caltrans, the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC), and the City of Calexico to connect to the recently expanded Calexico West Port of Entry.

The SR-98 improvements were funded by a mix of state, federal, and local dollars including the California Trade Corridor Enhancement Program from SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act.

Caltrans and ICTC will continue transportation investments along US-Mexico border to strengthen the global supply chain.