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Feature Story:

Mohawk Street Extension Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Thomas Roads Improvement Program (TRIP) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Westside Parkway Phase 1 Mohawk Street Extension Opening on June 30, 2011. A program of noteworthy speakers for the event included Bakersfield City Manager, Alan Tandy; Mayor Havey L. Hall, retired Congressman William M. Thomas; and Councilmember Sue Benham.

View Photos of Event

The Project

The Mohawk Street Extension is the first phase of the Westside Parkway. Work began on the project in spring 2009 and was scheduled for completion in spring 2012.

The project constructed a new 1.2-mile roadway with three lanes in each direction, plus bike lanes and a sidewalk. Construction included three major bridge structures – across the Kern River, the future Westside Parkway alignment, and the BNSF Railway. A new box culvert was also built at the Cross Valley Canal.  The facility offers access to the Kern River Bike Path, which was rerouted beneath the new Kern River Bridge.

Benefits

The Mohawk Street Extension adds a critical link to the local transportation network by extending Mohawk Street from Truxtun Avenue to Rosedale Highway. The new connection provides an additional north-south crossing over the Kern River and railroad, facilitating travel between northwest and southwest Bakersfield. A future Mohawk Street interchange will provide ready access to the Westside Parkway, which is expected to become the future alignment for State Route 58.

Funding

Major funding for the $29 million construction project was made possible through a State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) allocation by the California Transportation Commission in 2008.

Project Design: Dokken Engineering

Project Construction: Security Paving Company

Construction Management: Nolte Vertical Five