More projects to improve the City roadways are on the way. These are projects that are funded through the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). To get started, let’s recap the Projects we have been completed in the past 4 months.
• Date Palm Drive and Gerald Ford Sidewalk Gap Infill Project. This project’s long name emphasizes the length of the 2.5 miles of new sidewalk placed along Date Palm Drive and Gerald Ford Drive and included ½ mile of new curb and gutter, numerous driveways reconstructions and ADA corner improvements.
• Ortega Road Improvement Project. This project improved the north side of Ortega Road from Rancho Vista Road on the east to Campus Lane to the west representing almost a half mile of half street improvements including curb, gutter and sidewalk.
• Two HAWK Pedestrian Crosswalks Project. This project installed two High intensity Activated cross Walks (HAWK) along Dinah Shore at Via De Anza and Linda Way. To say the least, the first weeks of the operation of these crosswalks had motorist researching for their driver handbooks on what the different red lights mean. Remember, solid red means stop, flashing red means stop then proceed when clear. These crossing lights have been well received by the pedestrians in these areas.
• Carey Road Street Improvements. This project completed Carey Road, east of Cree Road at the west end of the City north of East Palm Canyon. This was a collaborative project that finished off all of Carey Road in conjunction with the efforts of two developers that had to complete portions of Carey Road themselves. Carey Road now has complete curb and gutter with a cul-de-sac at its east end with access to Horizon Gardens, The District Project, The District East Project, Cree Estate, Kings School and a private residence.
Now that we covered Projects that have been completed, let’s look at the Projects that are upcoming this winter and spring.
REAS Placement Along the Cathedral City/Rancho Mirage City Limits. This project, which will be complete within the next two weeks, will provide for the application of rubberized emulsion asphalt slurry (REAS) on our street that border the City of Rancho Mirage. This project has been in the works since last March, when Rancho Mirage notified us that they were going to doing this work along our bordering streets. The roadways affected are Plumley Road, portions of Da Vall Drive and Gerald Ford. Some areas on the bordering streets were excluded at they are included in reconstruction project that will take place in the following years.
• HSIP Cycle 8 Traffic Signals. This project is a Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant that the City is using to upgrade 20 traffic signals within the City. A grant of $1.674 million will provide for replacing the old controller systems and pedestrian crossing accessories with new updated controlling systems and countdown pedestrian head equipment. This gets very technical but is very exciting for us in Engineering and Public Works that operated and maintain the City’s traffic signal system.
2020 Winter/Spring Pavement Replacement Projects. This package of pavement replacement projects will combine four (4) pavement projects that will be done under the same contract. The package of projects consists of the following CIP Project that will remove and replace all the asphalt in the following streets:
• The West Whitewater Neighborhood Street Improvements. This project will replace the asphalt on Shifting Sands, Whispering Palms Trail and Sky Blue Water Trail from Ramon Road to Mission Indian Trail.
• South Panorama Neighborhood Street Improvements. This project will replace asphalt on Avenida La Paloma, Avenida La Gaviota and Whispering Palms Trail from Ramon Road north to Baristo Road and Baristo Road from Landau to Whispering Palms Trail.
• Avenida Ximino Neighborhood Street Improvements. This project will replace the asphalt and fix drainage on portions of Vega Road, Avenida Ximino, Susan Drive, Paulina Avenue, Walker Street, Joaquine Way and Perlita Road. For the exact location of the asphalt replacement work to be completed, please contact the City Engineering Department.
• Avenida Maravilla (La Pasada) Street Improvements. This project will replace the asphalt on Avenida Maravilla from vista Chino to the northerly limits of Avenida Maravilla in the La Pasada Community.
• REAS on Ramon Road. This project consists of applying REAS slurry along portions of Ramon Road from Landau toward the east as this year’s funding allows. Portions that do not receive the REAS slurry this spring season will receive this asphalt treatment in subsequent consecutive years until it is completed at the east City limits at Da Vall Drive.
• Los Gatos Road Drainage Improvements. This project consists of redesigning the drainage at the intersection of Los Gatos Road and Date Palm Drive. There are a number of partnering parties that are participating in finding the right solution for this area as well as grant applications being worked on to assist in the design and construction funding. This project will be constructed after a design concept is chosen, plans are drawn up and funding partner participations are sorted out.
• The Ophelia Bringas Memorial Bridge Project. This project, which will construct a bridge on Cathedral Canyon over the Whitewater River Channel, is shovel ready with the constructability review and design check being completed at this time. City Staff is also working with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) on a CV Link crossing for the Bridge that will not impact our funding approval by Cal Trans. We are on the list for funding approval of this $20 million project and should be notified before and/or around the end of this year or sooner.
As you can see, we have a busy winter and spring planned. If you have any questions regarding this Community Update and the Projects discussed, please call me, John A. Corella at 760-770-0327 or email me at JCorella@cathedralcity.gov .
