Lathrop Road between Union Road and the Tidewater Bikeway crossing is going to four lanes.
It is part of the $3 million pavement upgrade project now underway on Lathrop Road between Highway 99 and Union Road.
That means Lathrop Road from the Tidewater to a point west of the Madison Grove Drive intersection where the city fire station is located will be four lanes.
City Engineer Ken Jorgenson indicated staff took advantage of the pavement upgrade endeavor to improve traffic flow.
In order to do so, the median crossing for the Tidewater Bikeway had to be relocated.
The section of Lathrop Road and the Tidewater Bikeway likely won’t be widened to four lanes until property on the north side that includes land owned by Delta College is developed.
Future Lathrop Road upgrades in the development queue includes widening part of the major arterial just east of Airport Way when an approved commercial development on the southeast corner moves forward.
That project’s initial phase will include a Chevron with 16 fueling stations, an Extra Mile convenience store, and a car wash as well as a quick serve restaurant with drive thru service.
An “outdoor room” or courtyard for al fresco dining complete with water feature is planned in the second phase.
It will be between a retail building of 5,374 square feet and a pair of restaurant spaces — 1,908 and 2,092 square feet respectively.
Sometime in the coming months traffic signals will be installed on Lathrop Road where a driveway for 136 apartments now under construction.
The apartment complex driveway will tie into the western most access driveway to the Union Square shopping center anchored by Raley’s.
Two years ago, the city spent more than $1 million to rebuild a segment of Lathrop Road west of London Avenue as the pavement was failing.
Lathrop Road — along with other major arterials such as Louise Avenue, Union Road, and Airport Way — were originally built as country roads.
They were not designed to take extensive traffic.
Lathrop Road also has significant truck movements.
Manteca over the years has slowly widened and upgraded segments of the former county roads.
Airport Way has the most problematic segments left.
Upgrades and widening are expected to be done on the dime of developers as growth occurs.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
