GUSTINE — The City of Gustine officially opened its long-anticipated roundabout at the intersection of Highways 140 and 33 on Saturday, June 3, a milestone marking the completion of a project more than 15 years in the making.
City leaders, transportation officials, and community members gathered for a celebratory ribbon-cutting, acknowledging the extensive collaboration behind the endeavor.
"This project has been in the works since 2008, so you can only imagine how many people have worked on it," Mayor Pat Nagy said, reflecting on the years of planning and coordination.
The roundabout, which replaces a four-way stop intersection, is expected to improve both traffic flow and safety. Caltrans District 10 Director Grace Magsayo underscored the benefits, noting that "the roundabout forces drivers to slow down and virtually eliminate broadside collisions, reducing the occurrence and severity of traffic incidents."
Stacie Guzman, Executive Director of the Merced County Association of Governments, spoke candidly about the challenges faced along the way. "There were times I was not sure this day would come. It felt like with this project, regardless of the commitment of the community and Caltrans and the city and MCAG, it just was like one haymaker after another," Guzman said.
Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Pereira commended the perseverance of all involved, stating, "Leadership is doing the right thing when it's not popular, knowing that when it's complete, it is the right decision."
The project, funded by a combination of local, state, and federal resources, includes $2.4 million in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, $810,000 from Westside Regional Measure V funds, and $800,000 in local Measure V, City Water, and City Sewer funds. Measure V, a half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation infrastructure in Merced County, played a significant role in securing financial support for the initiative.
In addition to the roundabout, the project features a realignment of Railroad Avenue, upgrades to underground city utilities, and the creation of a woonerf, a Dutch-style shared space for pedestrians, bicyclists, and low-speed motor vehicles between Ash Avenue and Railroad Avenue.
"This project completion is due to the fantastic collaboration of many entities, including Caltrans, Merced County, Merced County Association of Government, our City Engineering Firm, Gouveia Engineering, and many of our city officials and staff," Nagy said. "At the state and national level, we received help and guidance from our congressional representatives. Everyone involved has labored long and arduously on this project. And I want to thank and praise everyone for sticking with it and seeing it through the long process to today’s final completion."
The Gustine City Council awarded the construction contract to Agee Construction Corporation of Clovis, Calif., bringing the years-long effort to its successful conclusion.
With the roundabout now fully operational, city officials hope it will streamline traffic movement and enhance safety for residents and travelers alike.
