In early December, Caltrans and the Fresno County Transportation Authority announced the completion of the final segment of the State Route 180 (SR-180) Sequoia Freeway Project.

The $80.8 million Sequoia project constructed a new six-lane freeway in Fresno, Calif., from Clovis Avenue to Fowler Avenue, and a new four-lane freeway from Fowler Avenue to Temperance Avenue.

The final section of the project completed the Sequoia Freeway, which now extends more than 12 mi. (19 km). The project also included the construction of new interchanges at Fowler and Temperance Avenue.

On Dec. 3, Caltrans also announced the start of construction on the first segment of the SR-180 East Kings Canyon Expressway Project, which will extend the highway eastward by constructing a new 6-mi. (9.6 km), four-lane expressway from Temperance Avenue to Quality Avenue.

The $67.6 million project is a partnership between Caltrans, the Council of Fresno County Governments and the Fresno County Transportation Authority.

Scheduled for a summer 2011 completion, the project is receiving $18.4 million in stimulus funding from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“Southeast Fresno presently lacks a major east-west freeway,” said Randy Iwasaki, Caltrans Disctrict 6 director. “The Sequoia Freeway and Kings Canyon Expressway projects will provide a safe, convenient east-west mobility for commuters and goods.”