I-215 Freeway Project Receives National Attention as
Model Stimulus Project
By John Husing

At a time when the nation is still reeling from the economic crisis, people in San Bernardino County have reason to celebrate. The confirmed allocation of $128 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or stimulus funding, combined with other local, state and federal funding sources, makes it possible for the overall $800 million, 7.5 mile, I-215 Freeway Widening Project in San Bernardino to continue on course and complete the final two phases of a four-phase project.
This project will inject economic vitality into a depressed region by providing an estimated 2,000 jobs per year over a four-year construction period. The spin-off jobs and economic boost will resonate throughout the county with the purchase of additional goods and services.
The project is considered one of the top transportation projects in the nation to receive more than $100 million in stimulus funding and is one of the first projects of this magnitude to go to construction. This project further establishes SANBAG’s reputation for partnering with Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans to deliver major transportation projects.