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Lathrop upgrading Harlan & Lathrop roads intersection
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Students living in Historic Lathrop and walking to Lathrop High School will soon have a host of upgrades to ensure that they arrive at school safely.

On Monday the Lathrop City Council approved an $807,000 contract with Dirt Dynasty Inc. that will overhaul the existing intersection at Harlan and Lathrop Roads – one of the busiest intersections in the city.

And traffic at the heavily used intersection will also get a bit of help as well.

The project, which was advertised for a formal bid in December, will add one exclusive left turn lane to the existing one turning from northbound Harlan Road onto Lathrop Road and will extend the left turn lane from eastbound Lathrop Road onto Harlan Road by an additional 90 feet.

In order to enhance pedestrian safety – especially for students who cross the busy intersection daily during the school year – the project will also fill the sidewalk gap at the southeast corner of Lathrop and Old Harlan Roads, and will fill the sidewalk gap on the south side of Lathrop Road from Old Harlan Road to the northbound I-5 onramp.

A new crosswalk across Lathrop Road on the east side of its intersection with the northbound onramp to I-5 will also be installed.

Dirt Dynasty was one of two bids submitted to the city for the project – Soracco, Inc. submitted a bid for $867,347 – and with a 15 percent contingency of $121,050, the total cost of the contract will be an amount not-to-exceed $928,050.

The council had previously approved spending $100,000 from the General Fund Street Reserves, so the contract for the work required transferring $730,000 from the Traffic Mitigation Fund and an additional $128,000 from the General Fund Street Repair Reserves to complete.

The stretch of Lathrop Road as it passes the onramps and offramps to I-5 has been an area of concern for residents who are worried about students having to pass the heavily traveled area twice daily. The council has taken steps in the past to enhance pedestrian safety in the area, and the sidewalk extensions and new crosswalk will supplement previous steps undertaken.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.