Click here for a key to the symbols used. An explanation of acronyms may be found at the bottom of the page.
In 1963, Route 98 was defined as the route from "Route 8 near Coyote Wells to Route 8 near Midway Wells via Calexico."
The original routing of Route 98 on Drew Road was assigned Imperial County Sign Route J29 during 1970.
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer): "California State Route 98", 9/1/2023)
In 1972, Chapter 1216 relaxed the terminus to be "Route 8 via Calexico."
In 1934, Sign Route 98 was signed along the route from Jct. US 80 (I-8) at Seeley to Jct. US 80 near Midway Wells, via Calexico. It was LRN 202, defined in 1933, as:
According to the 1935 state highway map, Sign Route 98/LRN 202 started at
US 80/LRN 12 at Seeley and headed directly south via Drew Road. Sign
Route 98/LRN 202 turned eastbound towards Calexico where it intersected US 99/LRN 26 at Imperial Avenue. Sign Route 98/LRN 202 then followed US 99/LRN 26 south on Imperial Avenue, 3rd Street and Heffernan Avenue.
From Heffernan Avenue, Sign Route 98/LRN 202 departed Calexico eastbound
via 2nd Street, Anza Road and Barbra Worth Road towards Bonds
Corner. From Bonds Corner, Sign Route 98/LRN 202 continued east to a
terminus at US 80/LRN 27 at Midway Wells.
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer): "California State Route 98", 9/1/2023)
In 1936/1938, a new alignment of Route 98/LRN 202 east of Bonds Corner
was completed. The new alignment followed the All American Canal and
crossed sand dunes. It departed the existing route east of Calexico and US 99 via Birch Street. Modern Yuha Cutoff connected Sign Route 98/LRN 202 directly west towards US 80/LRN 12 near Coyote Wells.
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer): "California State Route 98", 9/1/2023)
There were slight differences in the route in 1953. According to Chris Sampang, instead of taking the direct path from US 80 (now I-8) near Coyote Wells to Mt. Signal, Route 98 started at Seeley and went south to Mt. Signal (this segment is now Imperial County Sign Route S29). The portion from Coyote Wells east to Mt. Signal seems to have been unpaved, and not a state highway at the time. This was the result of a realignment that changed the western terminus, realigning the highway west of Drew Road via the Yuha Cutoff towards US 80/LRN 12 near Coyote Wells.
In 1957, Route 98/LRN 202 was moved to a channelized intersection at US 80/LRN 12 near Coyote Wells.
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer): "California State Route 98", 9/1/2023)
Widening: Dogwood Road (IMP 30.302) to Rockwood Avenue (IMP 32.469) / W of Route 111
In June 2012, the CTC amended the 2012 STIP for the Route 98 Widening (West of Route 111) Phase 1 project (PPNO 0549A) in Imperial County to (a) Program $4,500,000 of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Border Infrastructure Program (BIP) funds to Construction in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15; (b) Down scope the project limits; and, (c) Revise the funding plan. The Route 98 Widening project in Imperial County will widen the freeway from two to four lanes for approximately 2.6 miles. The project is currently funded for Right of Way Capital and Support only with $1,457,000 from STIP - Interregional Improvement Program funds and $2,400,000 from federal demonstration funds. The Environmental phase was completed under a separate project (PPNO 0549) in 2009. The design and construction phases are currently unfunded. The General Services Administration and Department of Homeland Security are partners working to reconfigure the Calexico Port of Entry which is located south of Route 98 on Cesar Chavez Boulevard at the border of Mexico. As a result, the City of Calexico (City) is developing a separate project in the vicinity of the Route 98 project. It is anticipated that the City’s project will negatively impact the Route 98 Widening project by diverting additional traffic onto Route 98 earlier than expected. This amendment proposes to down scope the unfunded Route 98 Widening project by segment of the project. This will mitigate the anticipated traffic congestion on Route 98 in a timely manner. The Department plans to request a construction allocation in advance of the programmed delivery year.
In August 2012, the CTC amended the scope for the Route 98 project as follows: In Calexico from just East of the All
American Canal to Rockwood Avenue. VV Williams Avenue to
Ollie Avenue.
In May 2014, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project in Imperial County near Calexico that will widen Route 98 from Rockwood Avenue to Dogwood Road. The project will be constructed in multiple phases. Phase 1B will widen Route 98 from Ollie Avenue to V. V. Williams Avenue. This phase is programmed in the 2014 State Transportation Improvement Program. The total estimated cost for this phase is $12,323,000 for capital and support. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2015-16. The scope, as described for the preferred alternative, is consistent with the project scope programmed by the Commission in the 2014 State Transportation Improvement Program. Phase 1C1 will widen Route 98 from Rockwood Avenue to Route 111. This phase is fully funded with federal dollars. The estimated cost is $4,000,000 for capital and support. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2016-17. Phase 1C2 will widen Route 98 from Route 111 to Ollie Avenue. This phase is not yet funded. The total estimated cost for capital and support is $8,400,000. A Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant application has been submitted for this project phase. Depending on the availability of funding, construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2016-17. Phase 1A will widen Route 98 from V.V. Williams Avenue to the All American Canal. This phase is not yet funded. The total estimated cost for capital and support is $31,000,000. Depending on the availability of funding, construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2018-19. Phase 2 will widen Route 98 from the All American Canal to Dogwood Road. This phase is not currently funded. The total estimated cost is $19,000,000 for capital and support. This phase will be constructed only if private funding becomes available. The CTC also funded $1,804,000 for the Phase 1 widening.
In June 2016, the CTC authorized $7,126,000 for Route 98 Widening (West of Route 111) Phase 1. In Calexico, on Route 98 from VV Williams Avenue to Ollie Avenue. Widen Highway from 2 to 4 lanes and add drainage detention basin and lane taper between Eady Avenue and VV Williams Avenue.
In June 2022, it was reported that around April 2022,
the project’s contractor, Irvine-based Spectrum Construction Group
Inc., abandoned the state Department of Transportation-funded project to
make improvements on a stretch of Route 98 between Ollie and V.V. Williams
avenues. This has impacted local businesses, which plan to file a
complaint with Caltrans in an effort to recoup lost revenue attributed to
the stalled construction project. The $7 million project reportedly got
underway in February 2021 and was to include the installation of hot mix
asphalt, concrete, drainage modifications, as well as landscape and
electrical work, according to information found on Spectrum
Construction’s website. The project was estimated to be completed in
225 days. Currently, Caltrans and the bonding company that is
contracted to guarantee the completion of the project are separately
searching for a contractor to finish stage 1 of the roadway project. The
project has a total of six stages, most of which are yet to be funded. Not
long after stage 1 got underway last year, Spectrum Construction notified
Caltrans that it was having trouble assembling a workforce, prompting
delays in the project, Caltrans District 11 resident engineer Daniel
Hernandez told the City Council during its May 18 regular meeting. Those
delays continued, Hernandez said, forcing Caltrans to advise Spectrum that
it was at risk of losing legal control of the project. Ultimately,
Spectrum stopped responding to Caltrans’ repeated inquiries and
abandoned the project. Nor can Caltrans simply remove the closed
sections’ road barriers to allow for traffic to resume because part
of the roadway has been removed, he said. “The only solution is to
finish stage 1 and open to traffic,” Hernandez said. At the time of
the May 18 meeting, Hernandez disclosed that because of the legalities
involved with taking control of the project over from Spectrum, it would
take at least three to four months for the project’s bonding company
to get a contractor back onsite to finish the project. In the meantime,
Caltrans is also conducting its own search for a contractor to finish the
project’s initial stage. If successful, any expense Caltrans may
incur would be reimbursed by the bonding company.
(Source: Calexico Chronicle, 6/17/2022)
SHOPP/TCEP Widening and ADA Ramp Project: Route 111 to Rockwood Ave (11-Imp-98 32.1/32.5)
In June 2020, the CTC approved the following allocation
amendment for a State-Administered TCEP project: $3,926,000. 11-Imp-98
32.1/32.5. PPNO 11-1258 ProjID 1117000085 EA 08028. Route 98 Widening.
In Imperial County. In Calexico from just west of Route 111 to Rockwood
Avenue. Widening Route 98 from 4 to 6 lanes. CON ENG $0 $750,000;
CONST $3,370,000 $3,176,000. Amendment to reduce
the Construction Capital and reprogram TCEP funds for Construction
Support. For construction purpose, this contract will be combined with a
SHOPP project EA 42780/PPNO 1240 under EA 08028/PPNO 1258, Project ID
1117000085.
(Source: June 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5s.(6)
#2)
In October 2020, the CTC approved an additional
$1,495,000 in construction capital for the for the SHOPP/TCEP Widening and
ADA Ramp project on Route 98 in Imperial County (11-Imp-98 32.1/32.5)
(PPNO 11-1258 ProjID 1117000085 EA 08028). This project located in the
City of Calexico in Imperial County will improve traffic operations and
improve traffic flow, enhance bicycle safety and improve pedestrian
access, and provide drainage improvements along Route 98. The
project proposes to widen Route 98 from 4-lanes to 6- lanes and includes a
bike facility (Class III) and a continuous sidewalk with upgraded and/or
new ADA access ramps at 22 locations throughout the project limits.
The project connects to the recently completed Route 98 widening, that
starts at the new Cesar Chavez Boulevard intersection, and extends to just
east of Route 111. With the recent improvements and reconstruction of the
existing Calexico West Port of Entry (POE), traffic that previously
utilized Route 111 now uses the recently completed Cesar Chavez Boulevard
and Route 98 to access Route 111. The Calexico POE connects the City of
Calexico and the Imperial Valley Region with the City of Mexicali and
currently serves about 17,000 vehicle crossings and 18,000 pedestrian
crossings each day. This project was programmed for delivery in
2020-21 and the project’s Plans, Specifications and Estimate
(PS&E) were completed in February 2020. In June 2020, the
Commission allocated $6,507,000 in construction capital and $1,525,000 in
construction support. However, the amount of funds needed to award
the contract, based on the lowest responsible bidder is $8,202,000 for
construction capital, and Imperial County is contributing $200,000 to this
cost increase. The Department is requesting a supplemental funds
increase of $1,495,000 in construction capital to award this project to
the lowest responsible bidder. At this time there is no increase to
construction support. Since this project is composed of SHOPP and
TCEP funding, the Department had done an item by item analysis and have
determined that the SHOPP portion is $450,000 and TCEP portion is the
remaining $1,045,000.
(Source: October 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item
2.5e.(10))
Widening: TCRP Project #148 Route 111 (IMP 32.293) to Route 7 (IMP 39.653)
TCRP Project #148 will widen this route from 8 miles from Route 111 to Route 7. There is also a regional transportation improvement project to widen the highway from one to two lanes in Calexico. In October 2000, environmental studies for the widening of the existing alignment, and consideration of alternative alignments, began. State Budget shortfalls, combined with increased growth and significant land use changes (with concurrant speculation that this growth could dramatically accelerate) occurred shortly thereafter. Additionally, at that time, the traffic models indicated only the widening of the existing alignment was warranted. However, regional advocates, including the County of Imperial and the City of Calexico, believed that future growth patterns and expected land use changes would require a new alignment. This resulted in delays in the environmental work until more refined future traffic projections, growth, and land use information became available. Since then, much of the previously speculated growth has occurred. Major land use developments have provided a foundation for revised traffic modeling and identification of interregional trips. As a result, the project has been reallocated, and the current scheduled completion date is the 2013/2014 fiscal year.
The SAFETEA-LU act, enacted in August 2005 as the reauthorization of TEA-21, provided the following expenditures on or near this route:
In June 2017, the CTC received an update on TCRP# 148.1. TCRP Project 148.1 is located on Route 98 in Imperial County and parallels the international border. The project, as originally scoped, will widen Route 98 for eight miles, from Route 111 to Route 7, and will improve motorist and pedestrian safety, increase capacity, and relieve congestion on the route, facilitating international and interregional movement of people, goods, and services by connecting the Calexico East Port of Entry (POE) to I-8 and Route 111. TCRP Project 148.1 was previously programmed with $2,500,000 for the Environmental Phase (PA&ED) and $1,000,000 for the Design Phase (PS&E). Following the allocation of TCRP funds for PA&ED work and the completion of the environmental analysis, the General Services Administration recommended relocation of the existing POE located at Route 111 to a more westerly location from this project, at Cesar Chavez Boulevard. As a result, additional traffic impacts are now projected on Route 98, between Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Route 111. In order to mitigate these impacts, as well as to keep within current available funding, the Department proposed (and the CTC approved) to update the project scope to widen only the area around the intersection of Route 98 and Route 111 at this time. The Department also requested (and the CTC approved) a concurrent allocation of the remaining $1,000,000 in TCRP programming (Tier 2) to begin PS&E for the project. This Tier 2 funding is available from passage of Assembly Bill 133, approved in March 2016, which provides additional funding capacity for Tier 2 projects.
In relation to the above, the CTC also approved the following TCRP allocation: Imperial 11-Imp-98 32.1/32.5 $1,000,000 Project 148.1 - Route 98 Widening. In Imperial County. In Calexico from just west of Route 111 to Rockwood Avenue. Widen Route 98. Future Consideration of Funding approved under Resolution E-14-19; May 2014. Outcome/Output: The project will improve traffic operations, provide congestion relief and add capacity to accommodate for growth by widening through the intersection with Route 111, adding signalized intersections, providing sidewalks and a Class 1 bike lane. This is a Tier 2 project-Allocation and is consistent with the Commission's TCRP Close-out policy approved May 2017
This route is part of the De Anza National Historic Trail.
Overall statistics for Route 98:
In 1933, Chapter 767 added the route from "[LRN 4] S of Sacramento to [LRN 3] near Ben Ali" to the state highway system. In 1935, it was added to the state highway code with this definition.
In 1957, Chapter 1911 related the definition to change the terminus to "[LRN 3] near N Sacramento".
This route ran from the junction of cosigned US 50/US 99 and US 99W in Sacramento to US 40 near N Sacramento. It was cosigned as US 50/US 99E. It is present-day Route 51 between the US 50/Route 99 junction and Route 160, and is signed as Business Route 80. Previously, the route ran from 16th Street to H Street, then over the American River. After crossing the bridge, the route became Fair Oaks Blvd. The route turned left at Howe, and then left on El Camino Ave to Auburn Blvd. According to Joel Windmiller, LRN 98 (and the H Street Bridge) were designated and constructed to provide an alternate route for US 40 and 99E when the southern section of Del Paso Boulevard was flooded by the American River. When the Natomas Viaduct on what is now the North Sacramento Freeway (Route 160) was built, bypassing that low-level portion of Del Paso, the flooding issues were reduced.
Portions of the route were signed as US 50 Bypass. Specifically, the segment that ran north on 65th Street to rejoin US 50/then-Route 16 at Folsom Boulevard.
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