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| Prospect Avenue today |
With design work completed, Santee is now seeking bids for
the construction of the Prospect Avenue Corridor Enhancement, a $25 million
project to revitalize the industrial zone next to Gillespie Field.
“We’re pleased that the project has advanced to the bid
phase, and that we’re on track to start construction in January 2014,” said Carl
Schmitz, a principal civil engineer and project manager.
The bidding process is being coordinated through the San
Diego Association of Governments’ website, which can be accessed here.
The project, which is expected to take a year to complete,
calls for upgrading a mile-long section of Prospect Avenue between Magnolia
Avenue and Cuyamaca Street. It’s been a complex process because of the need to
acquire private property to expand the city’s right-of-way.
Improvements will include new sidewalks, curbs and gutters,
along with attractive drought-tolerant landscaping. Overhead utility wires will
be undergrounded and utility poles removed. New street lighting will be
installed and storm drains will be upgraded to eliminate flooding.
On-street parking and
bicycle lanes will be installed on both sides of the street. Traffic signals
will be upgraded and a dual left-turn lane will be added.
The project will improve the appearance of Prospect Avenue
and make travel safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicular traffic.
The city anticipates the improvements will serve as a
catalyst to attract new businesses and jobs to this important industrial
corridor of Santee.
