The River Road Intersection Project is a vital stretch of roadway in the City of Ripon’s future.
Elected leaders recently took a step forward in this development, hiring Pacific Excavation, Inc. to handle of the first of two phases of the estimated $364,000 project on West Ripon Road and Fulton Avenue near the Mistlin Sports Park.
Councilman Leo Zuber asked at the June 13 Ripon City Council meeting if the funding made possible by the Active Transportation Program and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program was only for lights.
“(Phase one) of the project covers the traffic signals and all underground work,” said Engineering Supervisor James Pease, who added that traffic lights will not function until River Road is widened.
Among the major projects in the area is the North Pointe Specific Plan, which will be made up of residential and mixed-use development for the 310-acre area in the northern part of town.
According to Pease, the River Road Intersection Project, in terms of phase one, will include concrete improvements on the north and east corner of the River Road and Fulton Avenue intersection as well as the traffic signals.
As for the second phase, he added that part of the work will consist of the actual widening of River Road just east of Fulton Avenue, with funding made possible via the Regional Surface Transportation Program.
“The original intent was to combine the two phases of work, although the City has encountered a delay in obtaining environmental clearance from Caltrans for the widening portion,” Pease said in his report.
In order to eliminate the potential loss of funds through the Active Transportation Program, he noted that staff opted to separate the project into two phases to meet certain deadline requirements.
Pacific Excavation, Inc., as the low bidder, beat out Tennyson Electric, Inc. for phase one of the project.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.