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Roads advisory committee gets paving progress update; Caltrans approves $161,000 supplemental for Avocado Crest improvements
Summary
City staff reported grinding and paving progress on the current street improvement project, explained RNR and drainage work, described schedule impacts from recent storms and notified the committee that Caltrans authorized a $161,000 HSIP supplemental award for Avocado Crest signal and striping.
City staff told the La Habra Heights Roads Advisory Committee on Feb. 25 that grinding for the current street improvement project is complete and paving will continue through the week, with Dorothia and Fullerton scheduled for immediate paving followed by berm work and striping.
The staff member reported that multiple locations required significant remove-and-replace (RNR) work after grinding revealed undermined pavement and unusual subsurface materials. Most asphalt deliveries came from All American; a final set of loads will come from the Vulcan plant to keep the schedule on track after storm-related backlog delays. Staff said the contractor has been cooperative and that the town expects striping and berm work to follow once asphalt cures, with project completion targeted within several weeks.
Technical findings presented to the committee included discovery of petrochemical material on East Road during grinding and a geotextile grid under Fullerton that appears to be helping hold pavement together. Staff said they addressed undermined sections with backfill and rip-rap-style repairs and removed several trees that were lifting pavement.
The committee also received project-finance and traffic-safety updates: guardrail plans are finished pending Caltrans review before bidding, and staff reported Caltrans approved the full supplemental Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) request of $161,000 for the Avocado Crest signal and striping work. Staff said the supplemental was requested to cover higher-than-expected costs for signal and striping elements and that Caltrans authorized the full amount. The committee previously approved a restriping contract at the Citrus/Avocado intersection as a first step; staff said they will monitor whether that restriping and added delineators sufficiently reduce unsafe movements before considering more permanent geometry changes.
Committee members raised a possible stop-sign warrant study for the Avocado Crest downhill approach; staff said such a study would evaluate sight lines and historic data and determine whether a three-way stop could be justified. Members also discussed roadside clearance priorities; staff said the current contract included lump-sum clearing/grubbing budgeted at $80,000 and that roadside clearance will be emphasized this year.
Staff emphasized the Pavement Management Plan (PMP) schedule: the firm needs field survey time (about a month) to gather condition data and then will analyze and produce the report; committee members requested a mid-April draft so project priorities can be settled and projects started before assessment seven (with two years remaining) expires or changes via future ballot actions.
No formal policy votes were taken on funding or new project authorizations at this meeting. The committee approved three sets of past minutes during the session and will reconvene March 25 for routine follow-up.
