Agenda Item Wording:
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Tulare Avenue Road Rehabilitation Project Traffic and Construction Impacts - Receive a staff presentation outlining the construction phases of work, traffic detours, and resident impacts for the Tulare Avenue Major Road Rehabilitation Project from Demaree to Cotta.
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Deadline for Action: 5/19/2025
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Jonathan Frausto, Associate Engineer, jonathan.frausto@visalia.city, 713-4369
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.city, 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Department Director, Jason.Huckleberry@visalia.city, 713-4495
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that City Council accept the construction phasing plan and staff presentation on the construction impacts, traffic detours, and resident impacts associated with the Tulare Avenue Major Road Rehabilitation Project from Demaree to Cotta.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia is currently maintaining a street network of approximately 507 centerline miles of roadway and nearly 100 million square feet of pavement. In an effort to appropriately direct maintenance activities and optimize the use of the limited maintenance funds available, staff incorporated a Pavement Management Program (PMP) 11 years ago, following the lead of other similarly sized California municipalities.
Tulare Avenue, as identified in the Pavement Management Plan, was selected for resurfacing. This project includes a pavement rehabilitation of approximately 2.9 miles of roadway on Tulare Avenue from Demaree to Cotta Street. The rehabilitation work includes removing isolated areas of pavement failures, also known as digouts, grinding the existing pavement section and overlay with hot mix asphalt. In addition to these improvements the project will also upgrade some of the existing curb ramps to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and Public Rights-of-Way Access Guidelines (PROWAG). The project will incorporate some traffic signal improvements at intersections throughout the corridor. With these improvements the City of Visalia is implementing multimodal transportation enhancements such as Class IV Bike lanes through the use of modular curbing and on-street parking protection with the additive alternate bid.
This project will have impacts on traffic throughout the corridor and traffic will need to navigate along Tulare Ave. more slowly to avoid construction activities. However, one lane of traffic in each direction is expected to remain open on Tulare Ave. during construction, minimizing this impact as much as possible. There will be more significant impacts at the intersections and side streets such as Mountain, Woodland, Gidding’s, Sowell, and Watson Streets where the asphalt through the intersections will be replaced. Short-term closures of half the intersection at a time will be needed and will prevent North and Southbound traffic from traveling through the intersection during this work.
Citizens who travel in this area frequently are encouraged to Text TULARE to +1 (520) 506-5092 to receive current updates on the project.
Project Phases & Traffic Control:
The project is expected to be constructed in 3 phases as follows:
- Phase 1 - East of Mooney Boulevard to Watson Street. - Demolition and improvement of Curb returns, grind and overlay, dig outs, and traffic signal upgrades. North and South bound closures are expected on Giddings, Sowell, and Watson Street.
- Phase 2 - Demaree to West of Mooney Boulevard - Demolition and improvement of Curb returns, grind and overlay, dig outs, and traffic signal upgrades. North and South bound closures are expected on Mountain and Woodland Street.
- Phase 3 - East of Watson to Cotta Street - Demolition and improvement of Curb returns, grind and overlay, and traffic signal upgrades. There are no North and South bound closures expected on this phase.
While these are the expected project phases and impacts, there may be times during this project where various traffic signals need to be placed in a flashing all way stop mode and/or when the road may be down to one lane of traffic with flagger control.
Phase 1 - June - August 2025
Tulare Avenue from East of Mooney Boulevard to Watson Street will maintain traffic flow in the east and westbound directions with temporary traffic control measures to ensure the safety of residents. Intersections such as Giddings, Sowell, and Watson will require full dig outs of the pavement section resulting in a half closure of the intersection with North and South bound traffic not permitted through. Staff anticipates that these half intersection closures will be short-term 2-3 day closures. Traffic signals, where present, may be put in flashing all way stop mode during this work.
Phase 2 - September - November 2025
Tulare Avenue from Demaree to West of Mooney Boulevard will maintain traffic flow in the east and westbound directions with temporary traffic control measures to ensure the safety of residents. Intersections such as Mountain and Woodland will require full dig outs of the pavement section resulting in a half closure of the intersection with North and South bound traffic not permitted through. Staff anticipates that these half intersection closures will be short-term 2-3 day closures. Traffic signals, where present, may be put in flashing all way stop mode during this work.
Phase 3 - December January 2026
Tulare Avenue from East of Watson to Cotta will maintain traffic flow in the east and westbound directions with temporary traffic control measures to ensure the safety of residents. There are no closures planned in the contract documents.
Outreach
Throughout the project staff will be working with the construction manager to coordinate public notices to nearby residents:
- Construction Mailers will be sent to properties within ¼ mile radius from the project with contractor information 7-days prior to work starting.
- Public meeting mailers were sent to properties with ½ mile radius from the project approximately 2 weeks prior to the City Council meeting informing them of the public presentation being held Monday May 19th, at City Council Chambers
- A text alert number has been created and was listed on the outreach meeting mailer and will be used throughout construction to notify the public of detour changes, closures, and general construction progress.
- City web page will be created and will have contact information
- Press releases will be sent out as project milestones are met and when the project transitions between phases.
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City staff intends to notify the public of all pertinent project information to mitigate inconveniences and frustrations that often arise with large street construction projects like this one as best as possible.
Project Timeline:
Tulare Avenue Major Road Rehabilitation from Demaree to Cotta - Construction awarded April 2025, project anticipated to begin in June 2025 and be completed early 2026.
Phase 1 - June - August 2025
Phase 2 - September - November 2025
Phase 3 - December January 2026
Fiscal Impact:
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Tulare Ave from Demaree to Cotta (CP0602) |
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Project Funding Source |
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Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) & Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) |
$ 2,989,000 |
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Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Act (RMRA) (SB1) |
$ 400,000 |
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Total Project Funding |
$ 3,389,000 |
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Estimated Project Costs |
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Project Management |
$ 120,000 |
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Construction |
$ 5,202,396 |
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Construction Contingency (~15.0%) |
$ 780,500 |
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Construction Management |
$ 420,000 |
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Construction Services (Materials Testing, Inspection, etc.) |
$ 330,000 |
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|
|
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Total Estimated Project Costs |
$ 6,852,896 |
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Surplus (Deficit) |
($3,463,896) |
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Round to |
$ 3,465,000 |
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Transfer RMRA (SB1) funds (Fund 113) from the Whitendale Road Rehab project (CP0760) |
$ 400,000 |
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RMRA (SB1) Appropriation (Fund 113) |
$ 3,065,000 |
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Tulare Avenue Major Road Rehabilitation Project is fully funded and no funding appropriations are needed currently.
Prior Council Action:
April 21, 2025
Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with Yarbs Grading and Paving for RFB 23-24-18, Tulare Avenue Major Road Rehabilitation from Demaree to Cotta, in the amount of $5,202,396.00
June 5, 2023
Adopted Resolution No. 2023-20 to designate SB1 RMRA 2023-24 funding to 1) Tulare Ave Road Rehab from Demaree to Cotta; 2) Plaza Drive Intersection Improvements; and 3) Center and Acequia Street Rehabilitation.
July 18, 2022
Accepted and approved the appropriation of Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) funds and Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) funds totaling $2,989,000 to the Major Street Rehabilitation - Tulare Ave from Demaree St to Cotta St Project.
June 7, 2021
Council received 2nd staff presentation on parking protected bike lane concept along Tulare Ave with multi modal Intersection enhancements. Pubic feedback was received and presented to Council.
April 5, 2021
Council received staff presentation on parking protected bike lane concept along Tulare Ave with multi modal Intersection enhancements.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Staff recommends that City Council accept the construction phasing plan and staff presentation on the construction impacts, traffic detours, and resident impacts associated with the Tulare Avenue Major Road Rehabilitation Project from Demaree to Cotta.
end
Environmental Assessment Status:
Environmental Assessment has been cleared by Caltrans.
Attachments:
1. Project Location Map
2. Project Traffic Impacts Presentation