One of the biggest traffic messes in Manteca — South Main between the 120 Bypass and Woodward Avenue — is being addressed.

Mayor Gary Singh confirmed that plans are now being processed through the city’s engineering department that will widen that section of South Main to two through lanes in each direction.

It will also include traffic signals at Woodward Avenue and South Main Street.

The work will encompass all curb, gutter, sidewalks, left turn pockets. and medians.

Construction is targeted for this fall.

It is the result of new municipal policies put in place to eliminate having to “wait” for land bordering arterials to be developed before needed road widening is done.

Singh said the current council has heard the frustrations of Manteca residents loud and clear as growth overstains major arterials south of the 120 Bypass on Union Road, Main Street (former Manteca Road) and Airport Way that were designed and built as country roads.

The mayor in the past has shared that such situations frustrated council members as well.

That is why council directed staff to do what is needed to expedite work while still making sure growth pays for the impacts.

It has resulted is a policy where the first developer in a specific area that impacts a section of roadway away from their project is required to do the needed work.

They are then reimbursed as other developments move forward at which time fees are paid for their fair share of needed improvements.

The road work is going through plan check at the same time as construction drawings for the Market at Main shopping center on the southwest corner of Atherton Drive and South Main Street.

The stretch of South Main Street between the 120 Bypass and Woodward Avenue is typically bumper-to-bumper during peak commute hours.

It also has periods on Saturdays and Sundays with equally heavy traffic.

Eventually, South Main Street will be widened to four lanes to Sedan Avenue.

There will be a roundabout just prior to Sedan where South Main will intersect with Raymus Parkway that has the width to carry four lanes.

The city’s long range plan is to convert the Main Street overcrossing into a diverging diamond interchange just like the one at Union Road.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com