Dedicated truck lanes proposed for Inland Empire freeways

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- With traffic expected to double on Inland Empire freeways in the coming years, officials have devised several plans to help ease gridlock woes. One of those ideas includes a lane just for freight trucks.

Officials said the majority of truck traffic in the Inland Empire comes from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

"So 38 percent of the national containerized freight comes out of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, 75 percent of that comes right through our county here in San Bernardino," Tim Watkins with the San Bernardino Associated Governments said.

The San Bernardino Associated Governments is the county agency in charge of implementing and planning for transportation improvements.

Dedicated truck lanes are not a new idea to Southern California, as the recently opened Devore Interchange implemented them.

"There are truck bypass lanes that were incorporated into the design in that interchange to separate trucks from cars, so that eliminates some of those conflicts or weaving points," Watkins explained.

But a dedicated truck lane has infinitely more challenges, especially when you factor in a possible $20 billion price tag. Other variables include where to put the lanes, how many of them, and exit points.