SR347-Smith-Enke among intersections to be improved

Relief is on the way for those who navigate the intersection of State Route 347 and Smith-Enke Road.

The city council Tuesday approved funding for a series of projects designed to improve traffic flow at the city’s busiest intersection, and City Manager Rick Horst said the work could begin relatively soon.

“With the market as crazy as it is, we hope to have design done in 6-9 months and then start construction,” Horst said.

That timeline would allow the current median-improvement and welcome-monument project running from Honeycutt Road to the northern border of the city to be completed prior to work beginning on the congested intersection.

The projects in the city’s plan include:

• A second, dedicated, right-turn lane from westbound Smith-Enke Road onto northbound SR347. The entrance to CVS Pharmacy would move to the east to allow for the longer, two-lane, turn lane.
• A double, left-turn lane from eastbound Smith-Enke onto northbound SR347.
• A dedicated, right-turn lane from southbound SR347 onto State Route 238.
• A dedicated, right-turn lane with no stop required for motorists leaving Rancho El Dorado via Lakeview Drive going north on SR347.

Other projects approved as part of the package include significant upgrades to Garvey Road between Wilson and Condrey avenues. Horst has called this, “the worst road in the entire city and absolutely needs to be improved as part of this project.”

The city also will install 2,000 feet of sidewalk, curb, and gutter on SR238 from west of Loma Road to SR347 to accommodate development in the area.