A neighborhood north of State Route 52 that has had to endure bumpy cracked
pavement and chronic flooding will be high and dry this winter.City contractors have substantially completed the first phase of improvements along Railroad and Buena Vista Avenues. The project called for installing underground storm drain pipes, resurfacing asphalt pavement, and in some sections of the project area, widening the street. New curbs, gutters and sidewalks also were installed within certain portion of the project site.
The project footprint includes Railroad Avenue, Buena Vista Avenue, and four adjacent cul de sac streets: Summercrest Lane, Summertree Lane, Lind Vern Court, and Buena Valley Drive.
So far, the city has spent about $2.4 million on the improvements. New asphalt pavement has been installed on Buena Vista Avenue from Buena Vista Drive west to Cuyamaca Street, and on Railroad Avenue from Mission Gorge Road south to Buena Vista Avenue.
A second phase of the project, which is expected to cost $1.5 million,
involves connecting the new city storm drains to Caltrans’ drainage system
along the freeway, and repaving portions of Buena Vista and Railroad avenues.
Other improvements in with the second phase include new curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
It should be completed by the fall of 2015.The much-needed public improvements will not only increase traffic and pedestrian safety, but also will make the entire neighborhood more attractive and enhance property values.
The city was able to pay for the improvements under a financing plan that combines developer fees with federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
