Supervisors approve construction contract for road resurfacing

Although funding for the project is contingent upon receipt of state or Federal money, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has authorized a construction contract for asphalt resurfacing and storm drain pipe replacement for 61.43 miles of roads throughout unincorporated San Diego County.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote January 28 established appropriations of up to $14.8 million in the detailed work program of the county’s Department of Public Works contingent upon state or Federal funding, authorized the substitution of up to $10.2 million of Federal Economic Stimulus program funding for previously-budgeted state Proposition 1B and Proposition 42 funding, authorized the director of the county’s Department of Purchasing and Contracting to advertise the contract for bid and to award the contract, and found that the repairs of existing facilities were categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review.

Proposition 42 was passed by the state’s voters in March 2002 and dedicates the sales tax on gasoline to road projects, but a stipulation allows suspension of the funding in the event of a state fiscal emergency.

Proposition 1B was passed by the state’s voters in November 2006 and provides $2 billion for California’s local streets and roads, but the state’s budget deficit may create a substantial delay in the county’s receipt of its share of Proposition 1B funds.

The county had previously budgeted $6.6 million of Proposition 1B funding and $3.6 million of Proposition 42 revenue for the construction project, which has an estimated cost of $25 million including an 11 percent contingency.

The Federal Economic Stimulus program is likely to restrict awards to projects which are ready for construction upon available funding, but a final version must be passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Obama before funding for any project can be provided.

While the authorization of a contract increases the readiness of the project should Federal Economic Stimulus funds become available, construction contracts are typically timed to avoid the normal rain season and if a contract is awarded the resurfacing is not scheduled to begin until spring.

The work is expected to be completed eight to ten months after the start of construction. The potential contract will not be awarded if neither Federal nor state funding is obtained for the project.

The Department of Public Works uses a pavement management system which utilizes both field review and mechanical data to prioritize roads in need of resurfacing and culvert replacement.

Visual assessments of the degree and type of cracking or other surface defects are complemented by pavement management software which validates and categorizes surface distress.

Storm drain pipes are visually inspected and recommended for replacement prior to resurfacing.

The road segments slated for resurfacing include 0.30 miles of Calavo Road between Pepper Tree Lane and Stage Coach Lane, 2.15 miles of Alta Vista Drive between Via Monserate and Winterwarm Drive, 0.80 miles of Ramona Drive between Via Monserate and State Route 76, 0.23 miles of Ramona Drive between Via Monserate and the end of the county-maintained road, 0.05 miles of Oriente Place between Oriente Drive and the cul-de-sac, 0.16 miles of Harris Drive from Hutchison Street to the end of Harris Drive, the entire 0.35 miles of Blackwell Drive, 1.70 miles of Hutchison Street from Barsby Street to East Vista Way, 0.17 miles of Oriente Drive from Hutchison Street to Roca Place, and 1.47 miles of Osborne Street from East Vista Way to Guajome Lake Road.

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