After more than six years of planning, design and collaboration with the community and separate construction phases, the Downtown project is substantially complete. Work crews have repaired and rehabilitated underground sewer leaks, blockages, sags and aged pipes. They have laid new pavement and completed pedestrian bulbouts and ramps. The new design has re-routed traffic around Lytton Square, around the Sunnyside redwood trees and limited to one way down Bernard Street.
Project team members have installed bike sharrows and widened the Miller Avenue sidewalk to provide a safer experience for all users of these now “Complete Streets.” Work crews will complete the remaining striping and signing improvements in the coming weeks. At the last moment, the project team was able to scramble to refurbish and relocate the Lytton Square flagpole prior to the Memorial Day parade.
Once PG&E lowers the two remaining vaults on Miller Avenue, work crews will return the striping at the Throckmorton and Miller Avenue intersection to two lanes on both northbound Throckmorton and Westbound Miller. Staff is working with PG&E to expedite their work, but as of this week, PG&E notes it will be months before the vaults will be completed.
The finishing touch on this project is new artistic bike racks that crew members will install in front of the clock tower and Equator Coffee. Staff is working with an temporary committee comprised of Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Arts Commission and business representatives to create and select the new racks. Project managers do not know the specific schedule for procurement and at this time, but temporary racks are in place to accommodate regular bike use and the city’s ever growing fleet of E-Bikes.
Please review The Downtown Project webpage for additional information and resources.