It wasn’t too long ago that River Road was a two-lane country road.

That stretch – or approximately 1,300 feet – from Fulton Avenue and North Ripon Road is now a spacious six-lane road along an area with new housing development and businesses.

The Ripon City Council approved the completed work by McFadden Construction, Inc. of Stockton at the Jan. 14 meeting.

No discussion was necessary.

The River Road Widening Project also included underground utility improvements along with a new non-potable water line, fire hydrants, storm pipe, catch basin, street lighting and landscape irrigation.

Surface improvements consisted of asphalt, curb, gutter, sidewalks, planting and road striping.

The retention of $73,751 was paid via the Regional Surface Transportation Program.

Council also approved the change order on the Mulholland / California Resurface Project.

VSS International, Inc. was awarded to do the work last May initially for $614,120 from the Streets & Road Operating Fund.

The project consisted of various asphalt treatments on Mulholland Drive, California Avenue and several streets in the surrounding area.

A change order was approved in August for patching and striping, increasing the contract to $718,578.

This is change order No. 3 for the “Raising Utilities to Grade” was $20,350 to be paid from the Streets & Road Operating Fund.

According to the council report: “After completion of the three-layer overlay, the contractor started on uncovering manholes and valve boxes that were sealed over during the asphalt treatments. It became apparent that some of the manholes and valve boxes were over an inch deep compared to finished grade and needed to be raised.”