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In 1963, Route 221 was defined as "Route 29 to Route 121 near Napa." The 1963 plans for the route (based on what is shown as a proposed routing on the 1963 state highway map) was as a planned freeway bypass N of Napa along either Trancas St or Lincoln Av. This may have been a routing for what was LRN 6.
Note: The routing that was formalized in 1982 (changing the short E/W
route between Route 29 and Route 121 N of the E/W portion of Route 121
into a N/S routing from Suscol to Imola) occurred in the field a few years
beforehand. Since the original definition was simply a route between Route 29 and Route 121 in the vicinity of Napa, both the original unbuilt
northern bypass and the current stretch along South Soscol Ave. fit the
definition. The only reason for running the matter by the legislature was
to ensure state ownership of the facility after Route 12 and Route 29 were
rerouted over the new high-rise Napa River bridge circa 1982 -- necessary
for Caltrans to authorize maintenance activities on the highway. As with
most matters of the kind, the shift of alignment was buried within the
yearly fiscal authorization and essentially "rubber-stamped" by the
legislature.
(Source: Scott Parker on AARoads, "Re: CA 221", 9/12/2019)
In 1984, Chapter 409 completely rerouted Route 221, redefining it as "Route 29 near Suscol Road to Route 121 at Imola Avenue in Napa." This change deleted the portion between the original two termini (indicating abandonment of the proposed routing), and the portion from Route 29 near Soscol Road to Route 121 at Imola Avenue was transferred from Route 29. This is a former segment of Route 29 that was bypassed by the Napa River Bridge and the new freeway in the early 1980s. The state wanted to relinquish it; but local authorities didn't want it and it remained in the State Highway System but was renumbered Route 221.
In 1990, Chapter 1187 changed ""Suscol" to "Soscol"
This was part of LRN 8, defined in 1909. It was originally signed as part of Route 29. The segment was previously cosigned as Route 12/Route 29.
Soscal Junction Flyover (04-Nap-221, PM 0.0/0.4)
In April 2016, it was reported that the proposed Soscol Junction flyover at Route 29 and Route 221 southeast of the grape crusher statue might become the proposed Soscol
Junction roundabouts. Although the $40 million flyover joining southbound
Route 221 to southbound Route 29 remains the preferred option to unsnarl
the rush-hour backups caused by traffic signal red lights at this key
intersection, Caltrans will allow the Napa Valley Transportation Authority
and city of Napa to spend a few month exploring whether a
double-roundabout design could handle the traffic. The roundabouts would
be on either side of Route 29 and serve as the onramps and offramps. They
would also allow traffic to take a road passing under or above Route 29 as
a link between Route 221 and Soscol Ferry Road. NTVA will spend about
$40,000 studying the roundabouts option, with the city of Napa providing
the engineering work.
(Source: Napa Valley Register, 4/23/2016)
The 2018 STIP, approved at the CTC March 2018 meeting, appears to change the allocation for this project from $6.3M to $12.819M (Caltrans + Napa TPA), with R/W acquisition and PS&E occuring in FY19-20. This project is at the intersection of Route 12, Route 29, and Route 221. Partial grade separation improvements
In August 2018, it was reported that Caltrans and the
Napa Valley Transportation Authority were looking for opinions on the
particular roundabout approach to take at Soscol Junction. The issue is:
one large roundabout or two smaller ones. No roundabouts would be on Route 29 itself. The highway would rise up on an overpass, no longer burdened
with the traffic signals that cause long backups. Underneath the overpass
is where the roundabout or roundabouts would be. They would control
traffic as it enters Route 29 either northbound or southbound or travels
between Soscol Ferry Road and Route 221. California created Soscol
Junction in 1981 as part of its Southern Crossing project when it opened
the nearby Butler Bridge for Route 29. Before that, highway traffic
traveled up the east side of the Napa Valley, took Imola Avenue west and
then continued on to Sonoma County or Upvalley. The original idea in the
1970s was to have an interchange from the start at Soscol Junction. But
money for the project proved tight and transportation officials settled
for the cheaper solution of traffic signals. By 2002, Napa County
officials were talking about the flyover solution. Now the idea has turned
into roundabouts, with the two possible configurations.
(Source: Napa Valley Register, 8/19/2018)
In October 2019, it was reported that a steep rise in
the estimated cost for the proposed, congestion-busting Soscol Junction
project isn’t sinking building plans. The estimated price has risen
from $40 million to $64 million. Napa Valley Transportation Authority
Executive Director Kate Miller said the plan is still to break ground in
2021. The longer Soscol Junction is delayed, the more the project will
cost, an agency report said. Soscol Junction is the intersection of Route 29 and Route 221/Soscol Ferry Road east of the Butler Bridge and
Grapecrusher statue. The plan is to raise Route 29 on an overpass and
remove the traffic signals so traffic keeps flowing. Route 221/Soscol
Ferry Road beneath the overpass would have two roundabouts to regulate
through traffic and traffic entering and leaving Route 29. Route 29 would
not have a roundabout. NVTA for several years has listed a price estimate
of $35 million to $40 million. A new report pegs it at $64 million, with
$50 million needed for construction. The project has been in the
environmental phase for years and construction costs rise 3 percent to 6
percent annually. Caltrans recently released the draft environmental
document, so that phase is nearing an end. Additionally, competition for
construction engineering companies that do this type of work is adding to
the estimated cost. The NVTA Board of Directors last week authorized
Miller to seek a $20-million advance in regional transportation
improvement program money for Soscol Junction. This state money comes to
the county in two-year cycles for local transportation projects. The 2020
cycle has $2 million available for new projects. Napa County would tie up
several cycles of funding. It would forgo using this money source for
other, smaller transportation projects for years to come in exchange for
the large, signature Soscol Junction project. Another potential Soscol
Junction funding source is regional state bridge toll hikes approved by
voters in 2018, though this money is frozen because of a court case
challenging the increases. Still another possible source is a grant
related to 2017’s Senate Bill 1, which raised state fuel taxes and
vehicles fees.
(Source; Napa Valley Register, 10/30/2019, updated 11/6/2019)
In March 2020, the CTC approved for future
consideration of funding a project on Route 29 (04-Nap-29, PM R5.6/R6.7)
and Route 221 (04-Nap-221, PM 0.0/0.4) in Napa County. Reconfigure an
existing intersection in Napa County. (PPNO 0376). This project is located
on Route 29 and Route 221 in Napa County and proposes to reconfigure the
existing intersection (Soscol Junction) of Route 29 and Route 221/Soscol
Ferry Road in Napa County from a signalized intersection to a full-diamond
interchange, with two roundabout intersections on either side of Route 29.
This proposed project is to improve traffic operations to alleviate
congestion between Napa Valley and towards Interstate I-80 and Route 37.
This project is not fully funded; it is currently programmed in the 2018
STIP for $12,819,000 in
regional shares for various components. Construction is estimated to begin
in 2022. The scope, as described for the preferred alternative, is
consistent with the project scope programmed by the Commission in the 2018
STIP.
(Source: March 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item
2.2c.(1))
In March 2020, the CTC approved the 2020 STIP, which
increased the programmed funding for PPNO 0376 Rt 12/29/221 Soscol
intersection separation (SB1), from $9,819K to $29,819K, with the bulk
being in FY21.22.
(Source: March 2020 CTC Agenda, Item 4.7, 2020 STIP
Adopted 3/25/2020)
In December 2020, it was reported that the CTC approved
a $25 million allocation through the Solutions for Congested Corridors
program to complete a $64 million funding package and begin construction
in 2021 of a double roundabout at the Soscol Junction of Route 29 and
Route 221 south of Napa. The improvements will relieve a traffic
bottleneck that has long bedeviled residents, workers and tourists to
Napa’s famous wine region, and will also deliver important safety
and active transportation benefits to the area.
(Source: The Bay Link, 12/3/2020)
In June 2021, the CTC approved amending the STIP to use
the funding available through the 2021 Mid-Cycle STIP and share
distribution of the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental
Appropriations Act of 2021 funds (COVID Relief Funds) to increase funding
for a project already in the STIP as follows: Route 12/Route 29/Route 221
Soscol Junction Intersection Separation Project (PPNO 0376); program $739K
to the CON Support phase in FY 2021-22.
(Source: June 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item
2.1a.(19))
In October 2021, the CTC approved the following
State-Administered multi-funded STIP/SB 1 Solutions for Congested
Corridors Program (SCCP)/Local Partnership Program (LPP) (Formulaic)
allocation/amendment: $49,580,000. 04-Nap-29 5/6.7. PPNO 04-0376;
ProjID 0400000769; EA 28120. Soscol Junction (Route 29/Route 221/Soscol
Ferry Road). On Route 29 at Route 221 In Napa County. Operational
improvement located at the intersection of Route 29/Route 221/Soscol Ferry
Road. Allocation:COVID RIP/21-22 ⇛ CON ENG $739,000. SCCP/21-22
⇛ CONST $25,000,000. LPP-F/21-22 ⇛ CON ENG $422,000. RIP/21-22
⇛ CON ENG $864,000; CONST $23,419,000 $22,555,000.
(Future consideration of funding approved under Resolution E-20-15; March
2020.) (Contribution from other sources: $3,714,000 for CON ENG)
(Source: October 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item
2.5s.(7)/2.5v.(5))
In June 2022, it was reported that the groundbreaking
for this project had taken place for the $54 million Soscol Junction
construction project at the entrance to Napa Valley. The project will
elevate Route 29, and create two roundabouts underneath to regulate Route 221 and Soscol Ferry Road traffic. The roundabouts will control traffic
getting on and off the highway. This is similar to what was done for the
intersection of I-80 and Route 89 near Truckee. Commuters and drivers over
the next two years or so can expect constant change at Soscol Junction.
Initial steps include putting a concrete K-rail in the median and
shoulders to protect workers and doing stormwater work, according to
Ghilotti Construction Co. Following this will be a series of traffic
shifts, lane closures, ramp closures and detours as the project winds
through five stages with numerous sub-stages. The main thrust of Route 29
traffic should keep moving. But various connections between Route 29,
Route 221, and Soscol Ferry Road will be closed at times, often during
non-peak traffic hours. Drivers might find themselves going through the
nearby business park and airport industrial area. Instead of making a
quick turn at the intersection, they’ll take an off-the-beaten-track
side trip. Peak delay for extended closures is estimated to be less than
10 minutes. Caltrans will inform the public as each stage and sub-stage
brings about specific ramp and lane closures.
(Source: $ Napa Valley Register, 6/22/2022; $ 9Nc--20C3KbDAuPoHhLkjqYWlB6tDkrOifTG9kqBnScdrY">Napa Valley Register, 7/28/2022)
In July 2023, it was reported that in June 2023 MTC
last month formally approved the first allocations of Regional Measure 3
dollars, releasing over $270 million for nine projects for which the
sponsors already were moving ahead under Letters of No Prejudice. These
initial allocations included: Napa Valley Transportation Authority: $20
million for upgrades to the Route 29 Soscol Junction near Napa.
(Source: MTG/ABAG Bay Link Blog, 7/12/2023)
In August 2023, it was reported that construction has
started on the key Soscol Junction bridge at the entrance to Napa Valley
on Route 29. This bridge will carry Route 29 traffic over Route 221,
eliminating a traffic signal. Two giant roundabouts are being created
below the bridge to regulate traffic getting on and off Route 29. Napa
County’s biggest transportation project in a decade is rapidly
taking shape before a captive audience of commuters and travelers.
Caltrans officials say motorists could be driving on a finished, $54
million Soscol Junction by mid-2024. Motorists won't have to wait until
the completion of Soscol Junction to get to use the bridge. Northbound
traffic is scheduled to be shifted onto the structure in December.
Southbound lanes could shift to the bridge early in 2024. As for the
roundabouts, they should be fully open to motorists in spring or summer
2024, with partial openings to allow the use of new Route 29 on-ramps in
fall 2023.The traffic signal will be removed when the roundabouts are
fully opened. The ultimate plan is to someday create an interchange at the
Route 29 and Route 12 entrance to Jameson Canyon as well. But money must
be found for what amounts to another Soscol Junction-scale project.
(Source: Napa Valley Register, 8/9/2023)
In June 2020, it was reported that it turns out the county must add a
traffic signal on Route 221 when it builds the new jail near the Syar
quarry (~ NAP 1.709). The signal is called for in the project
environmental impact report. Board of Supervisors Chair Diane Dillon
thought she had a better idea for this major south county commute road.
She’d like to see a roundabout. Otherwise, traffic on Route 221
would have to stop for a red light when even a single vehicle is leaving
the jail main entrance. Public Works Director Steven Lederer said the
county has a tight budget for the jail. Taking a step back and trying to
turn a planned signal into a roundabout at this point could be
problematic.
(Source: $ Napa Valley Register, 6/20/2020)
[SHC 253.1] Entire route. Added to the Freeway and Expressway system in 1959.
[SHC 263.1] Entire route.
Overall statistics for Route 221:
In 1947 (1st Ex Sess), Chapter 11 defined this route as “A point on [LRN 60] near Los Angeles Airport to a point on [LRN 165] between Santa Barbara and Slauson Avenues”
In 1953, Chapter 1836 relaxed the description and extended the route:
“A point on [LRN 60] near The Los Angeles International
Airport to a point on [LRN 165], the Harbor Freeway, between
Santa Barbara Avenue and Florence Slauson
Avenues”
In 1959, Chapter 1062 truncated the route back to [LRN 60] (Route 1), and
extended the terminus to [LRN 170] (I-605): “[LRN 60] northwest
of the Los Angeles International Airport to [LRN 170] a
point on [LRN 165], the Harbor Freeway, between Santa Barbara Avenue and
Florence Avenue”
This route runs from Route 1 to Route 605, and is most of the proposed/partially constructed Route 90 freeway. A submission of proposed freeways listed LRN 221 as running from the Ocean Freeway (LRN 60) to the San Diego Freeway, and being the Manhattan Freeway, but that doesn't correspond to the 1947 or 1959 routings.
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Maintained by: Daniel P. Faigin
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