South Gate Expects Few Negative Impacts From I-710 Expansion Project

Last night, August 28, 2012, the South Gate City Council voted in favor of approving a funding agreement that would reimburse the costs that South Gate sustained from reviewing the environmental impact and statement corridor project. This is a report that was issued by the California Department of Transportation.

“Part of this is to reimburse the city for staff and consulting time,” said Mohammad Mostahkami, Director of Public Works for the city of South Gate. 

The city is working on ensuring that properties within South Gate are not negatively impacted by the construction of this potential expansion.

“From what we understand, in the current document, they are not going to be taking any homes,” said South Gate Mayor Bill De Witt. “[The] limited business property that might be taken is a very small sliver of lands in certain corners.”

The report is 1700 pages long, but city staff has been able to review it effectively, according to Vice-Mayor Gil Hurtado.

“This document is huge and some cities are having a difficult time,” said Hurtado. “But our staff has been on top of this since the beginning.”

Staying on top of the expansion project is important for South Gate so that it can ensure that the project does not result in the removal of local properties and that it benefits South Gate.

“When this thing is done I don’t want someone to say that we did not dot our I’s or cross our t’s,” added Hurtado.

The I-710 expansion project is still in its infancy and research is still being done. Funding has also yet to be allocated to finance the construction.

“This is going to drag on for a number of years,” said De Witt, who added that the expansion is expected to be fully finished in 2035 if everything continues to move ahead.

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