The Hegan Lane Congestion Relief Project aims to relieve congestion and improve vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian circulation in southwest Chico.

 

The Project study area is in the vicinity of the Hegan Lane Business Park with access via Hegan Lane. This study evaluates the transportation network serving vehicular travel between Otterson Drive and the East Park Avenue/State Route (SR) 99 interchange. Several large commercial and industrial uses are clustered within the Hegan Lane Business Park along Otterson Drive and Hegan Lane, generating traffic as employees, visitors, and deliveries travel to and from area businesses. Most of these trips are between the Park Avenue interchange with SR 99 and the Otterson Drive area. The study area includes the transportation network between Otterson Drive, Hegan Lane, Midway, East Park Avenue, Fair Street, and Scott Avenue.

 

The purpose of the project is to improve vehicular operations, circulation, and accessibility for all modes of travel in the project area. The purpose of improving circulation in the study area includes reduction of vehicle delay, reduction of emissions, reduction in collision frequency and severity, and reduction of barriers to active transportation. In addition, the project will create an enhanced gateway in the City of Chico that improves orientation for residents and visitors, including people bicycling and walking, all while minimizing impacts to the environment.

 

The project kicked off in August 2020, with the planning and design phase anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025. The project’s planning and preliminary design phase addresses the current and future traffic demands along the roadways of Otterson Drive, Hegan Lane, Midway, and East Park Avenue. The project includes intersection operational and configuration improvements within the Project area without significant changes to existing circulation patterns.

 

The project team has diligently studied various improvement alternatives to address the challenges within the study area. After years of analysis, assessment, coordination, planning, and design, a comprehensive Traffic Analysis Report was completed. The report determined that current and future congestion within the project area will improve greatly with the implementation of the following intersection improvements:

 

A copy of the Hegan Lane Congestion Relief Project – Traffic Analysis Report is available to be viewed and/or downloaded below.