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Newark outlines major capital projects: Central Avenue overpass, Old Town streetscape, Thornton Avenue rebuild
Summary
Assistant City Manager Linka Havorka presented the city’s CIP update, highlighting the Central Avenue railroad overpass (construction from late 2025 to 2027), a planned Old Town Streetscape project (> $15M) and a full rebuild of Thornton Avenue with $3M secured from federal/state representatives; city also doubled annual paving funds to $4M for two years.
Newark staff told council candidates that the city’s capital improvement plan includes several multi‑year projects to improve transportation, public realm and facilities.
Assistant City Manager Linka Havorka described the Central Avenue railroad overpass near Sycamore Street as a major safety and mobility project; she said utility relocation work is underway and construction is tentatively scheduled to start in late 2025 with an anticipated 2027 completion. “Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin late 2025 with anticipated completion in 2027,” Hvorka said.
Hvorka also highlighted a planned Old Town Streetscape project estimated at over $15 million to slow traffic, add parking, benches, lighting and an entryway sign designed to catalyze private investment in Old Town. She said a railroad quiet‑zone study was completed and related safety design work is underway, and that the quiet‑zone work has partial funding from state and regional sources.
The presentation noted a full rebuild of Thornton Avenue—from Highway 880 through Spruce Street—was planned and that approximately $3 million of funding was secured with help from Congressman Ro Khanna and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla. Hvorka said the city doubled funding for annual street paving and sidewalk replacement to $4 million per year for the next two years to maintain the pavement condition index and address resident concerns.
Funding sources cited include state earmarks, federal grants, regional measures and local transportation grants; Hvorka pointed to a June 20 City Council approval posting for project funding details.
Next steps: staff plan to present an updated CIP to City Council in 2025 and will merge master‑plan priorities (parks, facilities) with CIP project lists before proposing specific spending plans.
