Caltrans announces $31M for Bakersfield highway expansion

By KBAK - KBFX - Eyewitness News - BakersfieldNow.com Published: Jun 28, 2012 at 3:25 PM PDT
Caltrans announces $31M for Bakersfield highway expansion
Motorist are seen on Highway 99 through Bakersfield in this October 2010 file photo.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The California Department of Transportation announced Thursday that a commission is allocating nearly $1 billion to 135 transportation projects statewide.

Two allocations are of local interest:

  • $31 million to widen 5 miles of Highway 99 to eight lanes from six lanes through the southern part of Bakersfield, from Taft Highway to Wilson Road
  • $46 million to widen 4 miles of Hwy. 99 to six lanes in Tulare County

The allocations include $766 million in federal funds and $600 million in voter-approved Proposition 1B funds.

Caltrans didn't give a time frame for the upgrades.