City details Harshman Road safety project; ODOT grant covers majority, city match about $78,514

Riverside staff on March 2 outlined a traffic-safety project at two Harshman Road intersections that includes traffic-signal upgrades, a new signal and intersection lighting, sidewalk construction and pavement work.

Beth Moore and city staff said the project stems from a 2022 safety study and has been in design and right-of-way acquisition since 2023. Key design elements include ADA-compliant signals, flashing yellow arrow signals for clearer left-turn indications, opposing left-turn lane alignment to reduce conflicts, linked radar vehicle detection to coordinate signal timing and new sidewalks and curb ramps.

Staff said bids are expected to be awarded April 20, 2026; construction would begin June 1, 2026 and largely finish in 2027 with some punch-list items into late 2027. The estimated construction cost excluding contingency is about $554,000; after contingencies and adjustments the project remains mostly funded by ODOT, leaving the city with a roughly 10% cost share estimated at $78,514. Staff noted the city has appropriated permissive-tax funds for the local share and that costs could rise only if unusual field conditions require change orders.

Council asked whether the $78,514 is a maximum or minimum; staff said it should be considered the minimum expected payment and that the figure could increase only if the city requested out-of-scope change orders or if unexpected field conditions emerged. Staff also reminded council that earlier expenses on design and right-of-way have already been incurred and that a 2018 pedestrian fatality helped prompt the grant pursuit.

Next step: staff will bring a final resolution and request to expend the city match at the next meeting so the project can proceed to bid.