LAKEPORT >> An agreement for final designs and right-of-way services for the corridor improvement project on South Main Street and Soda Bay Road was approved by the Lake County Board of Supervisors this week.
“This project has been around for a number of years,” Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon said. “We have final reached the stage where we can begin the final design and right-of-way acquisition.”
The agreement with Racho Cordova-based Quincy Engineering, Inc. will total a little less than $2.2 million.
The project includes cost of acquisition services, but does not include the cost of paying land owners, according to De Leon. Overall, the project proposes to add a center turning lane, bicycle lanes, underground overhead utility lines and improve related infrastructure, will be funded by multiple sources, including the State Transportation Improvement Program; Federal Demonstration Program Lake Area Planning Council Local Transportation Funds; County of Lake road funds; as well as utility company tariffs and contributions.
The Lake Area Planning Council considers the project a high priority, De Leon said.
Currently, funding is sufficient enough to complete the design, right-of-way and underground utility lines. Funding is also enough to construct the S. Main Street segment beginning close to Lakeport’s city limits and ending at the Soda Bay Road and Highway 175 intersection, according to De Leon.
The scope of work included in the agreement will complete right-of-way for both Soda Bay Road and Highway 175, final design for the S. Main Street segment and 90 percent of the design for the Soda Bay Road segment. Upon securing construction funds, final design of the Soda Bay Road segment will be completed
“This project has been through significant review by CalTrans audits and investigations because of the cost,” De Leon said. “We have received report … and they have issued a conformist letter.”
The report and letter will be submitted to the board at a future meeting.
No members of the public offered comment. The board approved the agreement with a 4-1, District 5 Supervisors Rob Brown dissented.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
