NVTA Advances Solutions for Highway 29 Traffic Bottleneck at Airport Boulevard
The Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) is working to address one of the last major bottlenecks on Highway 29: the congested interchange at State Routes 29/12 and Airport Boulevard, also known as Jameson Canyon.
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, the NVTA Board of Directors unanimously approved a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates to analyze design alternatives and prepare updated environmental documents for the intersections at State Routes 29/12 and Airport Boulevard and State Route 12 and Kelly Road.
“Highway 29 is the spine of Napa Valley, and every improvement we make keeps traffic moving and cuts down on emissions,” said NVTA Executive Director Danielle Schmitz. “This project at Highway 29 and Airport Boulevard is the next critical step in making sure our roads work better for everyone—commuters, visitors, and residents alike.”
The upcoming Airport Interchange analysis will examine up to three interchange alternatives—including both conventional and innovative designs such as a grade-separated “dogbone” roundabout. Each option will be evaluated for traffic relief, multimodal access, safety, cost-effectiveness, and its ability to accommodate Napa Valley’s projected growth. NVTA’s goal is to refine the project footprint and secure environmental clearance through Caltrans, clearing the way for the design and construction stages. NVTA anticipates completing environmental documents by 2027.
Just one year ago, NVTA and Caltrans completed the new roundabouts at the Soscol Junction Interchange, improving traffic flow between State Route 29, State Route 221, and Soscol Ferry Road. That project is expected to save drivers an estimated 1.35 million hours of vehicle delay every year, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 94,000 tons over the next two decades. NVTA has already seen a significant improvement in the northbound morning commute at Soscol Junction with the removal of the traffic signal, but the benefits of Soscol Junction will not be fully realized without addressing the bottleneck at the State Route 29/12 and Airport Boulevard.
NVTA has been exploring solutions to both the SR 29/12 and Airport Boulevard intersection and the State Route 12/121 Interchange in Carneros.
For more information on the Airport Boulevard interchange project visit the project webpage.