Encinal Avenue repaving, Santa Clara Avenue sewer repair to commence
If you are among the many Alamedans who avoid driving on Encinal Avenue because the bumpy pavement literally shakes and rattles your car, you may be relieved to learn that Caltrans is scheduled to start repaving between Broadway and Sherman Street this week. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the street closures and work are expected to take a year to complete.
According to the City’s latest news release, Caltrans was set to begin the long-awaited repaving and other improvements to Encinal Avenue on Monday, June 12. The repaving will provide motorists with a smoother ride and enhance safety for pedestrians and wheelchair users.
Other improvements include upgrading existing curb ramps, enhancing crosswalk markings, upgrading signals with accessible pedestrian signals, and installing vehicle speed feedback signs. This project will also incorporate Complete Streets elements, including the conversion of the existing two through lanes to one through lane in each direction, a center two-way left-turn lane, two Class II bicycle lanes, and parking within the project limits.
The work is expected to be completed in summer 2024. According to the City’s report, Caltrans will make every effort to minimize inconvenience as the project moves along. Traffic advisories, social media, and signage will be utilized.
The street closures from the repaving project (orange line) will be completed in 2024, but sewer repair (blue line) should be done by the end of the month.
Sewer repairs
According to the Downtown Alameda Business Association, the City of Alameda has contracted Ranger Pipelines Inc. to construct the project known as “Cyclic Repair Project Phase 19” on Santa Clara Avenue between Broadway and Park Street.
The work will consist of replacing sewer main, laterals, and manholes. It will use a combination of open trench excavation and trenchless method to install a new sanitary sewer main and associated sewer laterals.
The construction is tentatively scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 20, and is expected to last through the end of the month. During the initial phase of the work, a crew will take video of the sanitary sewer main and locate the associated sewer laterals. Following that initial phase, a secondary crew will complete the installation of the sanitary sewer main, laterals, manholes, and cleanouts, and will complete all restoration work.
Regular working hours will be between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays except holidays. “No Parking” zones and traffic control will be implemented, but access to properties will be maintained at all times for local residents and emergency services.
Although some inconvenience may be unavoidable, every effort will be made to minimize disruption caused by the construction.
