Contracts authorized for W. Alvarado, W. Aviation sidewalks

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors authorized the advertisement for bid and subsequent award of construction contracts for sidewalk projects along West Alvarado Street and West Aviation Road.

Two separate 5-0 Board of Supervisors votes Sept. 26 approved the construction contract process, which authorizes the director of the county’s Department of Purchasing and Contracting to take necessary actions to advertise and award the contract and designates the director of the county’s Department of Public Works as the county officer responsible for administering the contract.

Sidewalks and other improvements on the north side of West Alvarado Street will be constructed between Pasadena Avenue and South Mission Road, and sidewalk work along with other enhancements will take place on the northwest side of West Aviation Road between Alturas Road and Wisconsin Street.

“These sidewalks are very important to help keep kids walking to school and to the county library out of the street,” said Supervisor Bill Horn.

The West Alvarado Road sidewalk project will construct 230 feet of sidewalks along with curb and gutter improvements. The sidewalks along West Aviation Road will cover 1,100 feet and will include a pedestrian ramp and minor drainage improvement along with curb and gutter construction. Because both projects involve minor alterations of existing public roadway which would create no or negligible expansion of existing use, the county supervisors also found both projects categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review.

On March 27, the county supervisors approved the 2012-13 Community Development Block Grant plan which included $301,350 for the West Aviation Road sidewalks and $75,600 for the West Alvarado Street sidewalks. The cost estimates, including contingencies, are $588,350 for the Aviation Road project and $147,600 for the Alvarado Street work. Highway User Tax Account revenue, which is derived from the state’s excise tax on gasoline, will account for the remaining funding for the projects.

All temporary and permanent easement rights needed to construct the two sidewalk projects have been obtained. During construction traffic control measures will be in place to limit impacts to the community. Construction on the West Aviation Road sidewalks is scheduled to begin in fall 2012 and be complete by summer 2013 while construction on the West Alvarado Street sidewalks is slated to begin in January 2013 and be complete by March 2013.