CLEARLAKE ? Tree removal operations began Wednesday in the Lakeshore Drive/San Joaquin Emergency Slide Repair Project. Fedco Construction is expected to begin excavation procedures beginning Monday.
Estimated completion date is Nov. 6.
The slide repair project is located on Lakeshore Drive adjacent to Nelson”s Island and between San Joaquin Drive and San Joaquin Drive Extension. The project will result in roadway widening and reconstruction on Lakeshore Drive northwest of the Gooseneck. Work consists of the excavation of the existing embankment, grinding out of the existing pavement and the placement of new asphalt paving. In addition, a portion of the existing roadway embankment will be stabilized.
“Currently the road is about 18 feet wide and when we get through we”re going to widen it to about 24 feet,” Clearlake City Engineer Bob Galusha said. “Around that particular corner it was tough for buses. This will make it safer especially around that curve and it will also stabilize the mountain side.”
The project utilizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, which were awarded following heavy rains in 2005. Coastland Civil Engineering prepared the plans for the project in October 2008. The project bid was awarded to Fedco last month in the amount of $197,507.
FEMA will reimburse the city 87.5 percent of the repair costs while the city will be responsible for funding 12.5 percent.
Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lakeshore Drive through the construction area will be reduced to one through lane, controlled by a flagman. Motorists should expect delays. Electronic message boards will be in place advising motorists of the work schedule and changed conditions. Lakeshore Drive will be open to two-way traffic during the nights and weekends. Motorists are advised to drive safely through the construction zone.
The work schedule is weather dependent and cooler than normal weather or rain could delay the work schedule.
According to Public Works Superintendent Doug Herren, Fedco Construction finished laying pavement in the city”s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Collector Street Rehabilitation Project this week. Rehabilitation operations occurred in areas on Burns Valley Road and Austin roads. “They are moving along with the project quite efficiently,” Herren said. “They are a good crew.”
Herren said that roadway striping will commence in the next couple weeks.
For more information please call the City of Clearlake at 994-8201.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
