Parker Avenue Improvements

latest pictures from Parker Avenue

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 9:21 AM

Parker Avenue moving towards completion

Work is progressing at a quick pace as the project's ribbon cutting ceremony approaches. The plants (trees, shrubs, and groundcover) have arrived and are currently being installed in the new medians and bulb-out areas. Planting should be completed by early next week.

The final lift of asphalt concrete is scheduled to be installed on Parker and San Pablo Avenues September 5, 6, and 7. This will provide a continuous smooth driving surface. During final paving, parking will be restricted so please pay attention for temporary "No Parking" signs. Your cooperation will insure a quick and consistent final paving process.

PG&E is scheduled to take down the overhead poles and lines on September 12.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 9:15 AM

Parker Avenue Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Parker Avenue Reconstruction Ribbon Cutting has been scheduled for 9 AM on September 15, at the intersection of Parker Avenue and Pacific Avenue. Supervisor Uilkema will be on hand to offically celebrate the completion of 10 years of work on downtown Rodeo. Immediately after the ribbon cutting, there will be a parade down Parker which will include the John Swett Marching Band, local fire trucks, and old cars. The parade will end at Lefty Gomez Field, where the Supervisor will cut the ribbon on the new multi-use sports court. Then at 10 AM the Car Show and Chili Cook Off begins at Lefty Gomez Field. It will be a full day of activities, so please come out and join the celebration. Rediscover Rodeo!

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 8:54 AM

decorative pedestrian lights, medians being finished

The decorative blue pedestrian lights are being installed up and down Parker Avenue in between 1st and 4th Street. Other items will also be this same blue color, include a bike rack, trash cans, and the traffic signals.

Bay Cities is finishing up work on the last median island curbs from 3rd Street south. Once these are completed, the rest of the road will be paved.

The project is tentatively scheduled to be completed by early September.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 2:24 PM

lowering the roadway

It is now very apparent how much the existing roadway is being lowered along Parker Avenue. Prior to this project, portions of Parker Avenue had extremely steep cross-slopes. These made it difficult for disabled individuals to cross the street,. The new road surface--constructed at 1-2% cross-slope, will be more comfortable to drive and easier for pedestrians to cross.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 1:09 PM

Lane Closure along Parker Avenue & San Pablo Avenue

Bay Cities Paving and Grading will shortly be switching live traffic to the outside lanes on both San Pablo Avenue (between Parker Avenue and California), and Parker Avenue (between 7th Street and San Pablo Avenue). No Parking will be mandated between limits given for both local residents and businesses on Parker Avenue and San Pablo Avenue. Before switching traffic to the outside lanes, another notice will be given to all local businesses and residents within the limits specified to advise them of the actual date for the traffic switch. Furthermore, Bay Cities will be posting "No Parking" on barricades along these streets with dates as a reminder.

If you have any questions pertaining to scheduling or access issues, please contact Dave Pezel (Project Manager), Bay Cities Paving and Grading at (925) 687-6666.

For general questions, please contact John Pulliam, Contra Costa County Public Works Department, at (925) 313-2165.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 1:47 PM

Parker Avenue Newsletter for March, 2007

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 8:35 AM

crews begin working on west-side sidewalk

Bay Cities has begun working on the Parker Avenue west-side sidewalk between First and Second Street. They will soon begin work on the next block, Second to Pacific. Residents and businesses should expect that street parking may not be available while crews are working in that area.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 3:04 PM

Colored Concrete Sidewalks

The County's Contractor began placing the colored concrete sidewalks in the bulb-out areas today. The pictures below show the installation of the sidewalks at two of the bulb-outs at the 2nd Street/Parker Avenue intersection.

In order to place this colored sidewalk, the existing traffic signal poles which were in the way had to be removed. They were replaced by a temporary flashing red/4-way stop traffic light. Eventually a new traffic signal will be installed at the 2nd Street/Parker Avenue intersection.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 5:40 PM

a couple pictures

The picture on the top shows the new roadway being construction next to the new curb and sidewalk a the San Pablo/Parker Ave curve. The picture on the bottom is the contractor working on installing the new storm drain system at 7th Street.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 9:33 AM

Latest Parker Avenue Improvements Newsletter

The December 2006 issue of the Parker Avenue Improvements Newsletter was mailed out last week. A copy of the issue is included below. If you are interested in back issues of the newsletter, please contact John Pulliam at the County Public Works Department at (925) 313-2165.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 2:56 PM

Bulb Outs begin to take shape

The bulb outs between First Street and Fourth Street are currently being constructed. These bulb outs will have landscaped areas containing trees, shrubs, and groundcover, and they will also have cork-colored concrete sidewalks. The Contractor has constructed portions of the bulb outs at Second Street and Investment Avenue, but the colored concrete sidewalk cannot be placed until the existing signal poles at Second Street are removed.

The Contractor is preparing to pave portions of the project next week, weather permitting. Work also continues on finishing up the installation of new storm drain pipe.

The County and the Contractor are aware of the impacts that the project has on nearby businesses and residents, and we are working to minimize these. Questions or concerns about the project should be directed to the County Construction Office at (925) 313-2320.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 2:30 PM

Progress continues along Parker Avenue

The Contractor continues to work on the storm drain system, currently working on the system at the intersection of 4^th Street and Parker Avenue. All storm drain lines north of this intersection have been installed. Another storm drain line in front of Safeway has also been installed.

Work continues on forming and pouring sidewalk on the east side of Parker Avenue, with the Contractor currently working on sidewalk between 2^nd street and investment. Sidewalk along the east side of Parker/San Pablo curve to 2^nd street is completed, along with sidewalk on the west/north side of the curve.

Excavation of the roadway is proceeding between the intersections of California Avenue / San Pablo and First Street / Parker Avenue. The Contractor is also placing and compacting base rock in this section of roadway, with paving of this section schedule for next week, weather permitting.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 3:04 PM

October Construction

Bay Cities Paving and Grading crews continued their work along Parker and San Pablo Avenues during October. Crews continue to install the new storm drain pipes and inlets, working around existing utilities when possible and sometimes working with utilities to relocate when necessary. Current work to install storm drain pipe is taking place at 3rd Street, and will soon be moving south to 4th Street. The Contractor is also working to form and pour the new storm drain inlets so that portions of the new storm drain system will be ready and working for this winter's storms.

New sidewalk has been installed along San Pablo Avenue and around the San Pablo Avenue/Parker Avenue curve. While portions of the sidewalk at the curve may appear to be too high, this higher sidewalk is in anticipation of the new roadway which will be superelevated to provide a more comfortable driving experience.

Motorists should continue to proceed with caution through the work zone, and expect temporary lane closures at 3rd and 4th streets as storm drain pipe installation continues.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 4:39 PM

1st Half of September, 2006

Bay Cities Paving and Grading has completed installing 10 sections of new storm drain pipes near the intersection of 1st Street and Parker Avenue. Additional storm drain lines will be installed south of 1st Street along Parker Avenue and at the 2nd Street/Parker Avenue intersection in the upcoming weeks. Expect temporary lane closures along Parker Avenue and on 2nd Street during the various storm drain installations.

Bay Cities crews have also removed the existing curb, gutter, and sidewalk along the south side of San Pablo Avenue down to 1st Street, and the new curb, gutter, and sidewalk will be poured within the next two to three weeks. Please expect all outside vehicle lanes along Parker Avenue and San Pablo Avenue (north of 1st Street) to be closed until the sidewalk construction has been completed. The lane closures are necessary to ensure the safety of the construction crew and other pedestrians walking in the area.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 10:49 PM

Week of August 14, 2006

The contractor--Bay Cities Paving and Grinding, Inc--has installed two new storm drain lines just east of the Parker Avenue/San Pablo Avenue curve. Additional storm drains will be trenched and installed along the curve and at the 1st Street/Parker Avenue intersection over the next two weeks. Expect partial or complete lane closures from 2nd Street through the Parker Avenue/San Pablo Avenue curve between the hours of 7:30 am and 3:30 pm (Monday-Friday). Possible detour routes may consist of 2nd Street, Railroad Avenue, John Street, 1st Street (east of Parker Avenue), and Railroad Avenue (north of canal). All detour routes will be clearly marked by traffic control signs.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 6:24 PM

Construction starts with storm drain installation

Construction of the Parker Avenue Reconstruction Project officially began on August 7, 2006. The Contractor--Bay Cities Paving and Grinding, Inc.--is currently installing new storm drain pipe in the vicinity of the Parker/San Pablo curve.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 4:57 PM

Full Night Closures Eastbound I-80 Lanes in Hercules Next Week

The following information concerns a Caltrans project and is not associated with the Parker Avenue Improvements projects:

Caltrans Construction crews will close all lanes of eastbound I-80 in Hercules and traffic will be detoured off the freeway at the eastbound Willow Avenue off-ramp beginning on Monday night July 31^st, and continuing each night through Thursday night August 3^rd, between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., for the purpose of structure demolition of the eastern portion of the California Street Overcrossing Bridge.

Eastbound I-80 traffic will be detoured off the freeway at the Willow Avenue exit and then right at the end of the ramp onto Willow Avenue west and then onto westbound Parker Avenue and from Parker Avenue to northbound San Pablo Avenue and then back onto eastbound I-80 from San Pablo on-ramp to eastbound I-80 in Crockett.

Traffic delays are anticipated, and motorists are advised to use caution through the area. Motorists are also advised that traffic violations in Maintenance and Construction zones, are subject to double fines and to “slow for the cone zone”.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 4:31 PM

California Street Overcrossing Replacement

Caltrans is demolishing and replacing the I-80 California Street overcrossing. (This project is not connected with the Parker Avenue Improvements projects.) The County is working with Caltrans to minimize any inconvenience to local residents and businesses by notifying them in advance of upcoming construction activities and detours.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 11:35 AM

Contract awarded, construction set to begin

The contract for the Parker Avenue Reconstruction project was awarded to Bay Cities Paving and Grading, Inc., out of Concord, California. Bay Cities was the lowest responsive bidder with a bid of $6.1 million. Bay Cities anticipates construction will start during the second week of August.

EBMUD and the City of Pinole have completed their utility relocation work along Parker and San Pablo Avenues. Their work was done in advance of the Parker Avenue Reconstruction project so that their utility lines would not conflict with the construction of the new road surface.

Both Bay Cities and the County inspectors will have project offices on site in downtown Rodeo, most likely at the vacant parcel on the NE corner of Investment and Parker Avenue. Information on how the community may contact the project's Resident Engineers will be posted here soon.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 9:21 AM

Overview of the Parker Avenue Reconstruction Project

The Parker Avenue Reconstruction Project is an approximately 1-mile long project that seeks to revitalize downtown Rodeo by creating a more pedestrian- and bike-friendly environment. Improvements include new landscaped median islands, a new road surface with bike lanes and street parking, new sidewalks with colored concrete at the downtown intersections, decorative pedestrian lights, benches, improved street drainage, new safety street lights, and many other items intended to improve the overall infrastructure of the downtown.

A traffic signal will be installed at 7th Street and Parker Avenue, and a crosswalk and pedestrian signal will be installed along Parker Avenue between the Post Office and Lefty Gomez Park.

posted by John, Terri, Addie and Inara @ 7:38 AM