Campus Parkway is a 4.5-mile expressway corridor located in and around the city of Merced. Campus Parkway spans from California State Route 99 to Yosemite Avenue and is part of the larger conceptual Campus Loop corridor. The Campus Loop in full scale a series of planned roadways which if built will encircle Merced with an expressway grade beltway and permit easier access to the University of California-Merced campus. Campus Parkway was completed in three phases in 2009, 2020 and 2022.
Part 1; the history of Campus Parkway
The purpose of Campus Parkway is to enhance access to the campus of University of California-Merced (UC-Merced). In full scale the corridor begins at California State Route 99 Exit 185 and extends 4.5 miles northward as a four-lane expressway to Yosemite Avenue. The Campus Parkway corridor can be seen in contrast to the rest of the larger proposed Campus Loop which also includes Atwater-Merced Expressway.
Currently access to the UC-Merced is mostly provided by way of substandard two-lane roadways. The concept of a Merced campus as part of the University of California system was borne during the late 1980s and early 1990s due to increased Central Valley enrollment. The University of California Board of Regents selected Merced for the planned new campus during May 1995. Construction of the UC-Merced campus broke ground during October 2002 and would open for classes during September 2005.
The Draft Environmental Impact Report for Campus Parkway was submitted via the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on April 22, 2005. The corridor was planned as spanning from California State Route 99 north to Yosemite Parkway. The project also included an overpass of overpass the Burlington North Santa Fe Railway and California State Route 140. Access to California State Route 140 was proposed to be facilitated via a ramp structure.
An initial affirmative Notice of Determination regarding Campus Parkway was issued by CEQA on December 26, 2006. Further facets of the project were approved on September 26, 2007.
Campus Parkway Phase II construction can be seen in a southward aerial photo facing towards California State Route 140 circa December 2018. The connecting ramp to California State Route 140 can be seen on the left.
Phase II construction can be seen in a January 2019 photo facing northward towards California State Route 140.
The Phase II Campus Parkway completion dedication ceremony was held on February 3, 2020.
Phase III of the Campus Parkway project broke ground shortly after completion of Phase II. The Phase III corridor would extend the roadway from California State Route 140 north to the planned terminus at Yosemite Avenue. Initial projections had Phase III opening to traffic during June 2023 but was ultimately completed ahead of schedule. The Phase III dedication ceremony celebrating the completion of Campus Parkway was held on July 8, 2022 (photo Merced County Times).
Part 2; a drive on Campus Parkway
Northbound Campus Parkway begins at California State Route 99 Exit 185 in the city of Merced. The exit signage notes Campus Parkway to be the preferred access way to UC Merced.
Campus Parkway turns northward and crosses over the Burlington North Santa Fe Railway and California State Route 140 at the Merced city limit. State Highway access is permitted to the state highway via a connecting ramp signed as "Campus Parkway Access."
Campus Parkway passes through a roundabout at Olive Avenue. The corridor continues northward to a terminus located at another roundabout found at Yosemite Avenue. Beyond Yosemite Avenue local signage advises traffic to follow Lake Road to UC Merced.
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