A phased $150 million plus redo of the Highway 99/120 Bypass designed to enhance safety could end up making it more deadly for someone involved in a northbound Highway 99 accident between Austin Road and the 120 Bypass.
That is because in the coming months the northbound on-ramp to Highway 99 from Austin Road — as well as the southbound off-ramp — will be “temporarily” removed.

The Phase 1 demolition of the Austin Road overcrossing and its replacement with a four-lane bridge that will also span the Union Pacific Railroad tracks means there will be no ramps in those locations for a minimum of 10 years.

Ten years is the optimistic timing for their replacement in the third and final phase that currently has no funding.

The Caltrans website indicates the third phase that will carry a price tag of $62 million is not programmed to open to traffic until 2042.

That would mean the ramps would be “temporarily” closed for 18 years.

The absence of the ramps means the closest fire engine under automatic aid agreement between Manteca and Ripon would be a Ripon Consolidated Fire District engine stationed on Stockton Avenue in downtown Ripon.

Currently, the closest fire engine — if it is in station — is a Manteca Fire Department engine that would respond from Powers Avenue.

The Powers station, which is less than two miles from the on-ramp being removed, is essentially on top of the stretch of freeway that Caltrans in its environmental impact report for the upgrade project indicated is roughly seven times higher in terms of accident frequency than a typical stretch of freeway in the state.

Should the Ripon engine not be available, the response time of an engine from the Powers station to an accident on northbound Highway 99 between Austin Road and the Bypass within the Manteca city limits would be increased to at least 15 minutes.

That’s because the most direct route would be getting on the freeway at Austin Road and head south 2.52 miles to the Jack Tone exit in Ripon, crossing the overpass, and then re-entering Highway 99 and heading north 2.52 miles to reach Austin Road and just beyond.

Five years ago when it weas clear the phased project would require the removal of the  ramp in question, the concern was raised about emergency vehicle access to the segment of Highway 99 northbound between Austin Road and the 120 Bypass.

Fire officials at the time requested that a “temporary” dirt ramp that would have a gate to access from Austin Road near the foot of the replacement overpass be considered.

In such cases, emergency response vehicles within a jurisdiction typically carry a key on board engines and such to gain access in emergencies.

Even if an engine company had to stop and unlock the gate before proceeding, it would take less time to reach an accident than an engine dispatched from Ripon.

Typically, the sooner emergency personnel arrive on the scene in the aftermath of a serious accident, the better the outcome.

Neither the City of Manteca or Manteca Fire Department received any assurances at the time — or since then — whether the emergency vehicle access question would be addressed.

The San Joaquin Council of Governments — the lead agency overseeing the project — indicated Wednesday they “remain open to discussions with Caltrans to come up with options.”

Caltrans plays the pivotal role in addressing the concern given freeway right-of-way concerns are their responsibility.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com