Amador County - The Board of Supervisors last Tuesday discussed design alternatives for the Ridge Road Signal & Merge Lane project at New York Ranch Road, and directed staff to return with more plan alternatives. Barbara Belvoir, Senior Project Engineer for the Public Works Department, said 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. The project’s budget is based on two $900,000 grants from Caltrans and a local share of $434,000. The total estimated project cost is currently $2,234,000. Bill Williamson, Senior Project Manager for Stantec, said safety and visibility are top concerns for the project because “we still have the complication of a lot of trucks and vehicles moving through the intersection with the potential for broadsides.” He said the project currently includes two alternatives, with the second providing more visibility at an additional cost of $5,000 to $7000. Alternative 1 aligns with the topography and fits the funding of the existing project, while Alternative 2 widens the road to four lanes and allows for longer acceleration and deceleration lengths. Supervisor Richard Forster said “the main question is, do we have the extra $5,000 to $7,000? To me, that makes the decision pretty easy.” Supervisor Louis Boitano noted that the Jackson Rancheria had chipped in for the cost of two previous road projects and wondered aloud if they would be willing to contribute “since the bulk of the traffic will be generated by them.” Belvoir said “one of the main people (at the Jackson Rancheria) who was helping us get the funding is no longer there.” Forster recommended conferring with the tribe on the matter. Belvoir said it will cost “an extra $200,000 for another 125 feet of additional site distance of which we don’t have funds for.” Williamson said that “for the sake of budget control, we only worked with Alternative 1.” Another staff member in the audience said it would cost roughly $50,000 to create a detailed analysis for Alternative 2. One of the Supervisors main concerns was at the road’s curve. The board unanimously agreed to direct staff to return in the next few weeks with a cost estimate for both alternatives including additional curve modifications for safety. Boitano said “one of the insurmountable problems all along has been the neighborhood up there, and,….had we done this Alternative 2 in the beginning, we wouldn’t be here talking.” He said the neighborhood didn’t want full stoplights and consequently the board is visiting the issue for the third time. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 30 August 2010 06:10
Supes discuss alternatives for Ridge Road Signal & Merge Lane project
Written by Tom-
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Amador County - The Board of Supervisors last Tuesday discussed design alternatives for the Ridge Road Signal & Merge Lane project at New York Ranch Road, and directed staff to return with more plan alternatives. Barbara Belvoir, Senior Project Engineer for the Public Works Department, said 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. The project’s budget is based on two $900,000 grants from Caltrans and a local share of $434,000. The total estimated project cost is currently $2,234,000. Bill Williamson, Senior Project Manager for Stantec, said safety and visibility are top concerns for the project because “we still have the complication of a lot of trucks and vehicles moving through the intersection with the potential for broadsides.” He said the project currently includes two alternatives, with the second providing more visibility at an additional cost of $5,000 to $7000. Alternative 1 aligns with the topography and fits the funding of the existing project, while Alternative 2 widens the road to four lanes and allows for longer acceleration and deceleration lengths. Supervisor Richard Forster said “the main question is, do we have the extra $5,000 to $7,000? To me, that makes the decision pretty easy.” Supervisor Louis Boitano noted that the Jackson Rancheria had chipped in for the cost of two previous road projects and wondered aloud if they would be willing to contribute “since the bulk of the traffic will be generated by them.” Belvoir said “one of the main people (at the Jackson Rancheria) who was helping us get the funding is no longer there.” Forster recommended conferring with the tribe on the matter. Belvoir said it will cost “an extra $200,000 for another 125 feet of additional site distance of which we don’t have funds for.” Williamson said that “for the sake of budget control, we only worked with Alternative 1.” Another staff member in the audience said it would cost roughly $50,000 to create a detailed analysis for Alternative 2. One of the Supervisors main concerns was at the road’s curve. The board unanimously agreed to direct staff to return in the next few weeks with a cost estimate for both alternatives including additional curve modifications for safety. Boitano said “one of the insurmountable problems all along has been the neighborhood up there, and,….had we done this Alternative 2 in the beginning, we wouldn’t be here talking.” He said the neighborhood didn’t want full stoplights and consequently the board is visiting the issue for the third time. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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