Students can say goodbye to the jarring drive on Monte Vista Avenue. Repaving of one of Turlock’s busiest roads is expected to begin as early as mid-October and go through December.
Turlock City Council Members and The Regional Surface Transportation Program felt it was in the best interest of the city to repave Monte Vista after a road evaluation.
The project limits will be on Monte Vista Avenue from Pearl Street to Geer Road.
Construction workers will perform a grind down which takes off layers of the existing pavement and resurfaces the entire street.
The project will use an asphalt rubber mix that requires 11,500 tires for the length of the project.
The scraps of tire will come from junkyards around California and will be recycled and generated into the paving.
The tires will provide a smoother, quieter and, theoretically, a longer-lasting surface.
New traffic-detection loops will be installed at the signals on Dels Lane and Monte Vista Avenue. Along with the repaving of the street, a bike path is expected to be added along Monte Vista Avenue.
“In evaluating the roads that are eligible for the use of these federally funded projects, Monte Vista was one [where] the conditions of the road was bad and the amount of traffic that it holds definitely serves the city well for a rehabilitation type project,” Nathan Bray, Associate Civil Engineer of the project, said.
“We chose this project due to not only the severity of the road and the amount of cars that it holds, but also the proximity to things that are important to the city such as CSUS.”
Although The Regional Surface Transportation Program is paying most of the $1,077,371 granted for the project, many California State University, Stanislaus students will also be paying a price.
Parking along the eastbound and westbound portions of Monte Vista Avenue will be blocked due to the construction. Parking is expected to be available again once the project ends.
“I think it’s about time they did the repaving of Monte Vista and even though its going to make the parking situation a bit difficult, at the end of the day it’s necessary and it’s only going to be a temporary thing,” Jawhar Purdy (junior, Communication Studies) said.
“It is necessary for us here at CSUS and it’s also going to be beneficial for our city. As a commuter myself, it is tough. The parking situation is pretty terrible.’’
Teichert Construction of Stockton, the winning and lowest bidder, will apply the renovations along Monte Vista Avenue.