Students walking to Mossdale Elementary School next year will have the added benefit of redesigned roundabouts at McKee Blvd. and Towne Centre Drive and Brookhurst Boulevard and Golden Spike Trail – geared towards providing enhanced pedestrian safety.
The Lathrop City Council approved spending just over $1 million to overhaul the roundabouts to make them more pedestrian friendly with the safety of the students attending the nearby elementary school in mind – making it a point to include in the staff report details on contracting with an additional engineering firm to provide inspection services in the hopes of preventing delays so that it can be ready when students return to campus.
Because of the road configuration, students on both sides of the elementary school may encounter a roundabout on their trek to campus.
The city solicited two bids for the project – which was first introduced back in December when the council directed staff to investigate options after numerous resident complaints – and received a $971,442 bid from FBD Vanguard Construction and a $1.175 million bid from United Pavement Maintenance.
With a 10 percent construction contingency of $97,144, the council authorized spending $1.105 million – the $1.068 million needed for the project and the contingency fund for it as well as the $35,011 the city will pay TRC Engineers for part-time inspection services intended to supplement the city’s own inspection capabilities.
In March the council authorized the creation of a Capital Improvement Project for the undertaking that would include the construction of new splitter islands – islands located in the crosswalk to give pedestrians a safe place to stand if they’re caught in traffic – as well as the installation of new curb ramps, the resurfacing of the intersection, the restriping of all crosswalks, and the installation of all new signage.
Splitter islands are commonly used in roundabouts in residential areas and provide a source of shelter for pedestrians caught between traffic moving in opposite directions. In placed like Modesto where multiple lane roundabouts are common, the splitter islands are often wide enough in the middle of the road to accommodate not just pedestrians, but also wheelchairs and baby strollers as well.
The work is expected to be completed this summer.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
