VICTORVILLE • Construction won’t start on the long-awaited La Mesa/Nisqualli interchange by the end of 2011 as hoped — but it won’t miss by much.
Officials plan to break ground on the project Jan. 9, according to an updated timeline from San Bernardino Associated Governments, the regional transportation authority.
The 17-month construction window means drivers should be able to cross or get on Interstate 15 at Nisqualli Road by June 2013.
Victorville has been trying for decades to relieve traffic on Bear Valley Road by building a new bridge over the I-15 connecting Nisqualli and La Mesa roads. But without the cash to move the interchange forward on its own, a split Victorville City Council agreed in May to hand construction of the project over to SANBAG.
The county agency started advertising for construction bids Oct. 14 and held a meeting for interested contractors Wednesday, with bids due Nov. 10. SANBAG plans to award a bid Dec. 7 and start construction a month later.
That schedule could be delayed, of course, if SANBAG has to extend the bid date or needs additional time to approve submittals. But this is the first time a precise date has ever been given for the start of construction, after repeated delays over funding issues and difficulty securing land.
SANBAG will present details on the project to the City Council during Tuesday’s meeting, with several related issues up for votes that night.