Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday one of four design alternatives for the Ridge Road Signal & Merge Lane project at New York Ranch Road, and directed staff to draft plans for the selected alternative in order to seek bids on the project.

The project provides for a widening of Ridge Road lanes in both directions including a left turn lane onto New York Ranch Road with a flashing beacon safety light system.

In 2006, the Public Works Department constructed the original phase of the improvements based on a design by Stantec. They were then directed by the board to consult with Stantec to create more than one design alternative in order to consider cost, construction and safety concerns.

Barbara Belvoir, Senior Project Engineer for the Public Works Department, said her department recommends “the Alternative 2 design with no vertical curve modification” - a safety feature she called “quite expensive.”

The vertical curve was previously agreed upon as the best option, but other alternatives were sought because of the additional expenditure required. According to a summary of preliminary estimates, construction of a vertical curve would add $562,194 to the estimated cost of $2,779,824.

The project’s budget is based on two $900,000 grants from Caltrans and a local share of $434,000.

Board Chairman Brian Oneto said they could speak with the Jackson Rancheria to see if it could provide additional funding.

Belvoir said her department is “looking for final authorization to move forward with the design.”

Supervisor Louis Boitano said his “big concern” was neighbors living in the surrounding area. He said area residents complained in the past and “I don’t want them to come in at the last minute and blow this plan out of the water.”

Supervisor Plasse said he had talked with people in that location, including Charlene Buckley, who spoke during public comment. Buckley, whose driveway exits onto Ridge Road, said she trusts in the county’s decision but is concerned about whether an extra merge lane will be added because “the only place (vehicles) can merge to stop hitting each other is us.”

A motion was approved 5-0 to select Alternative 2 and complete the steps necessary in order to put the project out to bid.

Story by Alex Lane. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.