Manteca residents could know next month about what color the pavers will be on Main Street between Yosemite Avenue and Alameda Street and how long the new Union Road interchange will be closed.
And residents in two of neighborhoods with some of the worst roads in the city could know just as soon when construction will begin to start rebuilding the crumbling streets.
The Manteca Public Works and Engineering Departments held a virtual meeting on Thursday where they asked for public input on three of the biggest infrastructure projects on the horizon – allowing residents to voice their opinion on the color and shape of the pavers and how long Union Road will be closed to complete the diverging diamond interchange that is currently under construction.
With the Manteca city council already approving the installation of pavers on Main Street from Yosemite Avenue to Alameda Street, Thursday’s meeting gave residents the chance to choose one of three color options – Toscano, Rio, or Victorian – as well as the specific herringbone pattern that will be used. While there are two industry standards for pavers that attendees got the chance to choose from, the 45-degree pattern – which provides more of an offset look compared to the 90-degree pattern – will provide a greater opportunity to interlock the pavers and thus reduce the wear and tear from vehicles on the heavily-traveled section of roadway.
Staff will take those recommendations back to the council next month for final approval.
According to Koosun Kim, the city’s deputy public works director, the entire project should be completed in 90 working day. The city will limit the closure of Main Street to individual blocks. Kim said that crews will specially-designed machinery to lay multiple pavers down at one time, adding that construction teams should be able to knock out an entire block within a day. By closing only half of the street while the pavers are being placed, would prolong the time it would take it would complete the project.
And Main Street won’t the only major thoroughfare that could be closed for a stretch during the coming months.
When it comes to the city’s diverging diamond interchange at Union Road and the Highway 120 Bypass, the council will have three options – some of which could drastically cut down the length of time needed to finish the project and save the city significant money in the process.
One option would close the overpass and both on and off ramps to and from Union Road for 90 days starting next month. That would allow crews to shave four months off of the total length of construction and would likely lead to the interchange opening before Thanksgiving. It would also save the city around $200,000.
A 30-day closure would still save the city time but extend the reopening to somewhere near the end of the year and save only $100,000, while avoiding an extended closure would push back the reopening until March and could end up costing the city $100,000.
According to Kim, that will also be taken back to the council next month for its formal consideration.
And residents in both Springtime and Mayor’s Park two neighborhoods could soon be getting entirely new streets.
As part of the construction plan, both neighborhoods would get entirely new road base upgrades that will prolong the life of the streets as well as an asphalt covering. Maintenance of the aging roadways – which were initially constructed more than three decades ago – has been an ongoing issue for the city’s public works teams. The project will also feature upgraded ADA-compliant ramps for both neighborhoods.
After next month’s council meeting, that project will be able to go out for bidding as well, and construction could begin, weather dependent, by the end of the year.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
