One of the county’s most dangerous intersections may be safer by
Christmas, and the county may be able to shave more than $1 million
off a bridge project.
Hollister – One of the county’s most dangerous intersections may be safer by Christmas, and the county may be able to shave more than $1 million off a bridge project.
Improvements to the intersection at Fairview and Fallon roads – ranked among the top 10 intersections in the county for accidents, according to traffic data – are expected to be finished by December, according to a report on projects the county is working on.
Once the improvements are completed, Fairview road will have left turn lanes so both northbound and southbound traffic can turn left onto Fallon Road. Also, a right turn lane will be added on southbound Fairview Road, turning onto Fallon. Currently, drivers who want to make a left from Fairview block traffic on the two-lane, 55 mph road as they wait to make their turn. The estimated $460,000 project will be covered in part by a $270,000 federal grant. The remainder will come from fees that people pay when they build new homes.
Supervisor Don Marcus said the improvements to the intersection are needed for safety and he is glad to see them underway.
“The intersection at Fallon and Fairview, with increased traffic on Fairview, has become dangerous,” he said.
Among the 14 ongoing projects included in Assistant Public Works Director Arman Nazemi’s Aug. 23 report to the board is the replacement of the Hospital Road bridge that crosses the San Benito River. During the last board meeting Nazemi showed supervisors an alternative design for the project, which he says will save the county about $1.4 million over a previous design approved by the board in January. The previous design has an estimated cost of $9.4 million.
The alternative design that Nazemi presented will require acquiring land from three property owners, two of which – John Brigintino and Granite Rock Company – don’t object. A representative for Maximor-Juan Ornelas, who owns the third piece of land, said his client needed more time to study the design and how it will affect a horse breeding operation and a stand of pepper trees on the land.
“This is a quasi-judicial decision,” said Ornelas’ representative. “We are entitled to adequate due process.”
The board voted to hold-off on making a decision about the alternative design until their Sept. 6 meeting.
Also included in Nazemi’s report was a project that will build a bike lane on a segment of Southside Road spanning from the county offices on that road to the Hollister city limit. Supervisors awarded the contract for the $324,863 project to Wattis Construction Company. The project will likely be completed by December, according to the report.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
.
