Not only is the Highway 65 bypass project on track, it’s now well ahead of schedule.

On Wednesday afternoon, the California Transportation Commission unanimously approved the final $200 million needed for the bypass, allowing construction to start one year earlier than expected.

The California Department of Transportation will build the 11-mile bypass, designed to route traffic around Lincoln starting at Industrial Avenue and linking back to 65 near Sheridan.

“It’s hard to get the words right to describe the magnitude of this – it’s just amazing,” said Lincoln Councilmember Tom Cosgrove, who is also a board member of Placer County Transportation Planning Agency.

The $324 million project could go to bid within the next few weeks, he said.

Construction is slated to start in June. Cosgrove said work is anticipated to take three years, but – depending on the economy – could wrap up even sooner.

“It’s quite possible that with the amount of construction right now – less than in the past – there may be more resources available,” he said.

Regional and federal funds were available to begin work in 2009, but the project was able to borrow from transportation bond Proposition 1B, instead using already secured funds to pay back the bond.

A process called design sequencing – in which phases are planned in advance – also aided the early start date, Cosgrove said.

“People voted (for Proposition 1B) with the expectation that the projects would get built,” he said. “Some areas were not as prepared as we were, but CTC agreed to fund the bypass knowing our project could fulfill voters expectations.”