Merced County State Route (SR) 165 Intersection Control Improvement

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), District 10 - Stockton, is advancing a traffic safety improvement project at the intersection of State Route 165 and Willmott Road in Los Banos, Merced County, targeting a documented pattern of broadside collisions caused by motorists failing to yield. The core of the project is the construction of a single-lane roundabout at post mile 9.632, which will involve ground disturbance, vegetation removal, and the disposal of treated wood waste and existing pavement markings that may contain lead or chromium. Construction activities are scheduled for daytime hours with local traffic detours implemented to maintain access, while utility and drainage systems will be upgraded to support long-term infrastructure resilience. A partial right-of-way take is anticipated for three residential properties to accommodate the new roundabout design and associated road realignments. The project is governed by Caltrans Standard Specifications rather than federal FAR clauses, with contractual obligations tied to specific environmental and construction standards identified by project-specific prefixes such as WQ 1- for water pollution control, AQ 1- for dust control, HW 2- for air pollution, and NC 1- for noise control. Key performance requirements include the implementation of stormwater pollution prevention plans, bird and threatened species protection protocols, and adherence to hazardous material handling procedures for lead-contaminated soils. Inspection and acceptance occur on-site, with the contractor responsible for day-to-day quality control and compliance, while Caltrans maintains oversight authority through its Resident Engineer and environmental review teams. Although no contract value, funding codes, or award evaluation criteria are specified, the project is supported by federal aid with project number EA: 10-1Q050/1022000225, and environmental compliance is governed by CEQA and NEPA categorical exclusions. Key administrative contact is Jonathan Coley, Senior Environmental Scientist, who serves as the primary point of engagement for the project. No formal contracting terms, packaging requirements, invoicing methods, or offeror certifications are documented, indicating this is a forecasted construction effort primarily focused on environmental mitigation, standard-compliant execution, and traffic safety enhancement.