Photo by Samantha Bengtson
Construction crews have removed a portion of the roadway from Metz Road in front of the Soledad School District offices.
SOLEDAD — Traffic is currently detouring from Metz Road as the City of Soledad works on a traffic calming project while school is out.
Traffic calming slows traffic to create a safer and more comfortable street. Slowing of traffic can occur in a variety of ways, such as speed bumps and raised crosswalks, pavement markings and signage, visible crosswalks and pedestrian islands, traffic circles and traffic diverters or concrete elements that allow bicycles and pedestrians to pass freely but divert traffic to other routes.
The Metz Road project includes the construction of curb bulbouts at the intersection of Walker Drive and Metz Road, Belle Street and Metz Road, and just west of Third Street and Metz Road. Other construction work that will occur is replacement and construction of concrete curbs and gutters, valley gutters, side walks and curb ramps. Asphalt concrete repair, crack filling, slurry seal and roadway striping will also be occurring.
According to Public Works Director Donald Wilcox, the construction work should be finished by Aug. 10.
“There will be three enhanced crosswalks and the middle will be lighted by the street,” said Wilcox.
The City worked with Yamabe and Horn Engineering to apply for a Regional Surface Transportation Program competitive grant through the Transportation Agency of Monterey County. The grant awarded was for $516,800.
The winning bid for the traffic calming project was Granite Construction for $697,697.
