Remember to drive extra safely around Santa Maria for the next few weeks—there are three big road construction projects in the works.
The city’s annual street maintenance chip seal program, which began Aug. 11 and is scheduled to last for four weeks, will treat approximately 100 street segments and cost about $800,000.
Chip sealing involves a thin layer of road resurfacing that protects and extends pavement life.
Some of the busiest streets to be worked on include North College Drive from East Alvin to East Donovan; East McCoy Lane from South Broadway to South Miller Street; and North Railroad from West Donovan to West Alvin.
During the project, parking won’t be allowed on the streets marked as construction zones. Notices announcing the specific dates and times parking is prohibited will be posted prior to construction.
Also on Aug. 11, the city broke ground on the six-week-long College Drive Intersection Improvement Project. The goal is to expand drainage cross gutters on South College Drive at the intersections of College Drive and Camino Colegio, College Drive and Las Flores Way, and College Drive and Mariposa Way.
Along with road improvements, the project will include the construction of handicap accessible ramps and pavement improvements on College Drive. During the project, there will be temporary lane closures.
Lastly, Thornburg Street will be closed to through traffic at the intersection of Tunnel Street until Aug. 18. Traffic will detour at Fesler and El Camino streets. Drivers are encouraged to find alternate routes throughout the construction projects.
For more information about the projects, contact the Santa Maria Public Works Office, Engineering Division, at 925-0951, Ext. 225.
This article appears in Aug 14-21, 2008.