Coming to the 57 and 60 freeways for safety, jobs and commuters

Chances are you’ve experienced slow going at the interchange of the 57 and 60 freeways.

Daily, more than 340,000 drivers weave across several lanes of traffic to get to their chosen exits or freeway – with just two miles to do so.

Besides important safety concerns and congestion, the stretch is a major artery for commercial traffic, so improving the flow is important for workers and businesses.

“It’s on the major east-west corridor for interstate and national freight movement,” explained John Ballas, engineer for the City of Industry. “It’s important for the region in many ways, and every day.”

The solution: A three-phase project known as “The Big Fix.”

The first phase will focus on the Grand Avenue ramp. A new onramp to the westbound 60 Freeway from Grand Avenue will be constructed along with a lane for merging traffic. This part of the project is expected to be complete by 2013. Construction on the onramp has already begun, Ballas added.

The second phase will include nearby street improvements, focusing on the rebuilding of the intersection at Grand Avenue and Golden Springs Drive.

The third phase will include building new freeway lanes that allow drivers to get where they need to be without weaving through traffic, Ballas said.

Officials are hoping to finish the $265 million project by 2016, with funding from a variety of sources.

Industry has pledged $35 million, while Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is contributing $8.9 million.

And with the backing of congressional leaders like Rep. Grace Napolitano, Democrat of Santa Fe Springs, project supporters are hoping for $155 million in federal funding to complete the project ahead of schedule.

“The 57/60 Confluence project will help resolve a dangerous freeway intersection that has long been a concern for many commuters,” Rep. Napolitano explained. “These critical freeway improvements will help resolve the backup of cars at rush hour, create construction jobs, and improve safety for thousands of commuters in the San Gabriel Valley.”

The long-awaited project truly comes home for residents and neighbors of Diamond Bar.

The 57/60 interchange is ranked as the third most congested in California and the seventh worst in the nation, with levels of accidents, congestion and pollution that are absolutely unacceptable, not only to our city, but to the nation,” Diamond Bar Mayor Ling-Ling Chang said. “We jumped at the opportunity to partner with elected officials and the City of Industry to solve this serious problem that has plagued our region for decades.”

Also coming up, City of Industry is providing $700,000 for planning of a much needed improved onramp from Valley Boulevard to the 605 Freeway, widening of a mile-long stretch of Gale Avenue and Walnut Drive, and a traffic underpass at the train intersection on Nogales Street.