City staff outlines Bishop Boulevard resurfacing plan, schedule and traffic controls

A city staff member told business owners and residents that the city has awarded a contract for a mill‑and‑overlay resurfacing of Bishop Boulevard and expects a construction window of mid‑May to mid‑August, with exact dates to be set at a pre‑construction meeting.

"Total estimated project cost is $614,000 for this project," the staff member said, and added that most costs will be covered by a state arterial resurfacing grant with a local match funded from a 0.1% transportation benefit district sales tax. (The presenter referenced the grant share as about 80–81% in different remarks.)

The presenter identified the contractor as Mly Mley Inc., described the work as an overlay that removes roughly two inches of pavement before resurfacing, and said the project limits run from South Grand Avenue to Southeast Fairmont Drive. Red stars on a project map shown at the meeting corresponded to curb ramps; the staff member said some corners already meet current ADA standards while others will need ramp upgrades.

Sam Nisalla, identified at the meeting as the city’s senior civil engineer in charge of the project, said crews typically do concrete work first (curb and ramp work), then mill (grind) the pavement, haul material and return to pave. "We typically work with the contractor and they do one side first and then they switch over to the other side so that we can keep a walking path on at least one side at all times," Nisalla said.

Staff stressed that paving days will be the most disruptive operations because hot asphalt needs time to cool. During a paving day, driveways on the side being paved may be temporarily inaccessible; staff estimated most driveways would be impacted for one day unless unforeseen issues arise. Flaggers will be used at some locations, and the intersection of Bishop and Fairmont was singled out as a place where flagging and slower travel should be expected.

The city said Bishop Boulevard will be closed to through traffic between South Grand Avenue and Fairmont Drive for the duration of work in the immediate zone; through drivers should use the posted detour (Fairmont/Fairmount), while motorists with destinations inside the work area will be allowed local access by following traffic control signs. Staff said the contractor’s traffic control plan can be adjusted slightly after review but that the city intends to keep the plan consistent during the project so the public can learn and adapt to the setup.

On the question of bike lanes or wider lane striping, staff said that adding on‑street bike lanes would be outside the scope of this arterial preservation grant, which funds overlays rather than full street reconstructions. The presenter also noted that traffic volumes and safety guidelines affect whether on‑street bike lanes are appropriate on a busy arterial.

Staff encouraged affected businesses and residents to sign an on‑site list to receive targeted updates and pointed to a traffic‑control web page maintained by communications coordinator Megan Farren for email and text alerts. The city will hold a pre‑construction meeting with Mly Mley Inc. before work begins; detailed contractor scheduling and exact start dates will be shared after that meeting.

The staff member closed by saying the city will try to minimize disruption where possible, coordinate with the contractor on early starts or other scheduling tactics, and push regular updates through social media, the traffic page and direct outreach to those who sign up for notices.