Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public Works unveils $363 million five‑year capital improvement plan; water, bridges and levees prioritized
Summary
Ventura County Public Works presented a five‑year capital program totalling roughly $363 million, emphasizing transportation and water projects including bridge deck rehabilitation, pavement work, the Wainui Road widening and reservoir refurbishments; watershed projects to improve levees and river restoration were highlighted.
Ventura County public works officials on June 3 laid out a five‑year capital improvement program totaling about $363 million and covering roughly 106 projects, with transportation and water projects accounting for the largest shares.
Public Works Director Greg Strachluss and department leads described projects ranging from bridge deck rehabilitation and countywide pavement work to water‑system reservoir refurbishments and well rehabilitation. The board received the plan and directed staff to continue coordination with local cities and permitting agencies.
Roads and transportation director Anita Bala described near‑term work including a bridge‑deck rehabilitation program at five or six bridge sites using Highway Bridge Program and SB‑1 (RMRA) funds; a countywide pedestrian improvement program for high‑visibility crosswalks and rapid‑flashing beacons at multiple locations; and a 66‑mile pavement rehabilitation package. Bala also discussed Wainui Road, a proposed widening of 1.93 miles to create a continuous freight corridor between the Port of Hueneme and U.S. 101; preliminary design and environmental work are advanced, but right‑of‑way and construction funding remain to be secured.
Water and sanitation leaders described a program of reservoir refurbishment, new and rehabilitated production wells, and recycling‑water improvements for Moorpark’s water‑reclamation plant. Public Works also outlined a cleaning‑and‑lining program to preempt sewer collection breaks, and several district‑specific projects (Bell Canyon, Piru, Saticoy) to improve storage, pumps and treatment.
Watershed Protection staff flagged major multi‑year levee and ecosystem projects tied to the Ventura River and Santa Clara River corridors, including a levee enhancement in Casitas Springs and a cooperative project with the City of Oxnard to complete the Santa Clara River levee system that protects roughly 6,000 homes; those projects include environmental and endangered‑species considerations.
Public Works and the CEO’s office noted a large portfolio of grant‑funded projects — collectively more than $120 million in state and federal grants for certain projects, with specific recent grant awards for behavioral‑health facilities highlighted during the CEO’s related presentation — and cautioned that construction cost inflation and supply‑chain effects require careful scheduling and cash‑flow planning. The board voted to receive and file the CIP report.
Why it matters: The CIP identifies multi‑year capital investments that shape transportation capacity, water reliability and flood protection across the county; many projects will require additional grant awards or financing and coordination with cities and state agencies.
