Consultants outline Horseshoe Bar Road–I‑80 interchange study, citing collision cluster and options for safety improvements

Dokken Engineering presented a Project Study Report (PSR) scope to the Loomis Town Council for the Interstate 80/Horseshoe Bar Road interchange, identifying a high concentration of traffic collisions in the interchange area and describing a planning process that will culminate in alternatives and public outreach.

Consultant Chris Lideas said the project will begin with data collection and project scoping and run through preliminary analysis, environmental review and then design if an alternative is selected. “This interchange has been designated as being deficient,” Lideas told the council, noting the corridor’s growing congestion and safety concerns.

Engineers highlighted unsafe speeds and improper turning as two frequent collision causes in the corridor. Lideas explained that the PSR phase will produce multiple alternatives and that the town will use the PSR to apply for state and federal grants; no single solution will be selected during the planning phase.

The consultants proposed an outreach schedule that includes multiple community and stakeholder meetings to solicit public input on concepts and to present draft alternatives to council in the fall after Caltrans review. The team described survey and environmental work that may require limited access to private property for surveys or biological/cultural studies, and said final design would require more detailed field surveying.

Council members asked about timeline and community engagement; consultants said project scoping and alternatives work would run through the summer with formal recommendations to council expected in the fall. Consultants emphasized that project documents produced during the PSR will be required before the town applies for major grant funding.

No decision was required at the meeting; council received the presentation and asked staff to proceed with the planned data collection and public outreach schedule.