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October 16, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
MCAG—Mary-Michal Rawling
209-723-3153 x119 or mary-michal.rawling@mcagov.org
City of Los Banos—Leah Klascius
209-827-2405 or leah.klascius@losbanos.org
Merced County—Mike North
209-726-2744 or Mike.North@countyofmerced.com
Merced County, MCAG and City of Los Banos to Celebrate Completion of Pioneer Road Rehabilitation Project
The Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG), Merced County, and the City of Los Banos will celebrate the completion of two important regional projects along the Pioneer Road Corridor, the Pioneer Road Rehabilitation Project and the Pioneer Road/Ortigalita Intersection Improvements Project, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, near the intersection of Pioneer and Ortigalita roads.
The recently completed project involved resurfacing 2.9 miles of Pioneer Road from Volta Road just west of Ortigalita Road. This project, which was completed under budget and ahead of schedule, covered roadway in both unincorporated Merced County as well as the City of Los Banos. Through a memorandum of understanding, the County reconstructed both portions of the roadway, with the City reimbursing the County for the work performed within its jurisdiction. Combining the projects allowed the work to be completed more efficiently and at a reduced cost through economies of scale.
Concurrently, the City of Los Banos also completed the Pioneer Road and Ortigalita Road intersection Improvements project, with support from Merced County. The new signal will help improve traffic operations and safety at the intersection. Furthermore this project highlights the continuous efforts among the agencies in reducing congestion along SR 152 while providing an alternative regional route for Merced County residents.
Pioneer Road serves as an important corridor for residential and commercial traffic in Los Banos. The improvements will help support the community’s transportation needs as the city continues to grow, while enhancing roadway safety and mobility for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
This project was funded in part through Measure V, Merced County’s 30 year, half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2016 to support transportation improvements throughout the region.
“This project is vital to improving safety and mobility on the west side,” said District 5 Supervisor and MCAG Director Scott Silveira. “By improving traffic flow and incorporating safer facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, this project directly improves the quality of life for residents in and around Los Banos. Measure V’s regional funding is an important part of moving these improvements forward, and I appreciate the collaboration between MCAG, the City of Los Banos and the County to address our collective transportation needs.”
“We’ve talked for years about improving Pioneer Road, and it’s exciting to see another piece of that vision become a reality,” said Los Banos Mayor Michael Amabile. “As Los Banos continues to evolve, we need roads and intersections that can keep up with our community’s needs. These improvements are a big step in the right direction, and we’re thankful to Merced County and MCAG for helping make it happen.”
“Through Measure V, MCAG is helping deliver critical infrastructure improvements by providing dedicated regional funding for projects that benefit our communities such as the Pioneer Road project,” said Stacie Guzman, Executive Director of MCAG. “This investment reflects our commitment to regional collaboration, responsible stewardship of public funds and building a transportation network that can support future growth.”
Ribbon-Cutting Details:
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Date: October 19, 2026
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Time: 3 p.m.
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Location: Merced County Department of Public Works Roads Facility—20925 Pioneer Road, Los Banos
Members of the public and the media are invited to attend the ceremony as we celebrate this transportation improvement and the regional partnership that helped make it possible.
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