CLEARLAKE — The project to provide safe passage on Burns Valley Road between Bowers Road and the Burns Valley Shopping Center is complete. Although the project is not what was originally envisioned, the completed project does serve its purpose.
The city had been working on a project to add a sidewalk along the west side of Burns Valley Road between Safeway and the Clearlake Senior/Community Center since 2005. Due to financial limitations, the project was revised last summer to a six-foot wide pedestrian walkway and bike lane rather than an actual sidewalk.
Clearlake City Councilmember Judy Thein, who has focused much of her attention and political influence toward the project since being elected nearly four years ago, said she”s acceptable of the outcome. “I”m very pleased that after several years of dedication to this project, this council has finally been able to give our seniors safe passage to the Burn Valley Shopping Center.” Thein said. “I am personally thankful that I was able to be a part of the team that made it happen.”
Thein had made the project a priority in her tenure as a council member, meeting with the seniors of Autumn Village and Austin Manor, whose needs and safety were of primary concern. The original project was intended to include a sidewalk, curb and gutter. However, financial constraints called for a revision to the project.
“The project is not exactly what we had all envisioned at the start. But I think what the council and city staff were able to accomplish, given our limited resources, serves the purpose that the project was intended to serve,” Thein said. “Seniors and other pedestrians now have a better, safer place to travel on Burns Valley Road.”
The completed project included construction of a six-foot wide pedestrian walkway and bike lane, repairs to a guard rail, painting of crosswalks that were nonexistent before, which also provide safer access to the Highlands Senior Center; and ADA-compliant ramps on the neighboring sidewalks.
“We can always hope that in the future we may find the resources and funds to complete our original concept of curb, gutter and sidewalk,” Thein said, adding that she plans to schedule a meeting in the near future with the senior of Autumn Village and Austin Manor to discuss their thoughts and concerns regarding the completion of the project.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
