BUILD grant will pay most of SR 65 makeover

California State Route 65 is getting a makeover, thanks to federal funding from Rep. Kevin Kiley and the BUILD grant program. The makeover is meant to ease traffic from Blue Oaks Boulevard to Galleria Boulevard. The $28.1 million project calls for an outside southbound third lane (1.4 miles) from Blue Oaks Boulevard to Galleria Boulevard and southbound auxiliary lane (0.8 miles) from Pleasant Grove Boulevard to Galleria Boulevard. Eighty percent of the project ($22.5 million) will be covered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. "This project is going to provide tremendous relief for our commuters," Kiley said. "Traffic on this stretch of highway has continued to get worse. Now, it will finally get better. The best part is that it will come at next to no expense to our local taxpayers. Thank you to all of our partners that helped make this happen, especially the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency and the Department of Transportation." Placer County Transportation Planning Agency Director Matt Click said they are thrilled to be awarded the BUILD grant. "The Placer County Transportation Planning Agency (PCTPA) is thrilled to receive an award of $22.48 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation's BUILD Discretionary Grant Program for the construction of additional southbound travel and auxiliary lanes on State Route (SR) 65 between Blue Oaks Blvd. and Galleria Blvd," Click said. "This project represents a major milestone for the region, directly addressing one of Placer County's most severe traffic bottlenecks. By widening State Route 65, we are not only easing daily congestion for thousands of commuters but also improving safety, reducing travel times and supporting economic growth throughout the area. PCTPA sincerely thanks Congressman Kevin Kiley and his office for their steadfast partnership and tremendous efforts to secure federal funding for this project's construction."