I’m excited to share some significant progress on a vital project that will help shape the future of Los Banos: the Pioneer Corridor Road. This local bypass of Highway 152 has long been a vision for our community, and we’re taking important steps to make it a reality.
The Pioneer Corridor will ultimately be a five-lane highway stretching from Ward Road to Volta Road, providing much-needed relief to traffic congestion on Highway 152 and creating better connectivity for our growing city. We’ve already started the first phase of improvements, with the council approving the expansion of the Ortigalita and Pioneer Roads intersection—a key milestone for this project.
The funding for this transformative initiative will be a collaborative effort. Future support will come from the state, the Merced County Association of Governments, and the city itself. Importantly, new development projects will play a key role by contributing through funding mechanisms that ensure growth directly benefits our existing residents, helping to fund essential infrastructure improvements and enhance the quality of life for our community.
I want to reflect for a moment on the history of this project. For 12 years, I worked on the original bypass plan, which would have routed north of town. Unfortunately, as costs ballooned to over $600 million, the state scrapped the project. While that was a setback, it also taught us an important lesson: if we want this vital infrastructure, we must be in charge to make it happen.
This time, the Pioneer Corridor Road will be our project—managed locally, driven by the needs of our community, and built in phases that ensure tangible progress. We will work together with state and regional partners, secure necessary funding and prioritize strategic planning to make this bypass a success.
The Pioneer Corridor Road is not just about relieving traffic; it’s about building the infrastructure that will support the future of Los Banos. This project will foster safer roads, better commutes and improved opportunities for businesses and residents alike.
As we move forward, I encourage you to share your thoughts and stay engaged. Together, we can continue to make Los Banos a better place to live, work, and thrive.
Michael Amabile’s email address is michael.amabile@losbanos.org.
