The Scoop: Week of August 1, 2022

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New items or items with information updated this week have asterisks "**" in front of them.

-The Downtown Parking Garage Elevator is currently out of service.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Repair parts have been ordered.

-Valley Water: Notice of Subsurface Controlled Blasting

The Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) Phase 2A of the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project includes construction of an approximately 2,300-foot-long, 14-foot wide by 12-foot-high underground stormwater flood protection tunnel which is currently being excavated beneath Nob Hill within downtown Morgan Hill. As tunneling continues for Phase 2A beneath Nob Hill, it is anticipated the rock will become too hard for mechanical excavation to continue.

Controlled blasting of the rock may be necessary to complete the tunnel excavation. Underground controlled blasting is comprised of small explosive charges placed within drilled rock. This procedure is safe and is often performed within residential and commercial areas for similar types of public works projects. The underground controlled blasting is anticipated to occur once a day from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 pm (noon) for the next several weeks. The full notice from Valley Water can be viewed at https://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/42038/Notice-of-Underground-Controlled-Blasting-07-16-2022-Final?bidId=.

Should you have any questions regarding the underground controlled blasting, please contact Resident Engineer, Scott Hensler at (408) 722-0138 or email [email protected]. Additional information about this project can be found on Valley Water's Project Page: https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/e6-upper-llagas-creek-flood-protection-0.

Traffic Delays or Closures in the Weeks Ahead:

**Hale Avenue Extension Project

Dunne Avenue will be closed at the Hale Avenue Extension Project. The closure is tentatively scheduled for August 8^th through September in order to construct the intersection improvements, including the roundabout, curb/gutters, medians, sidewalks, street light foundations and pavement. Closing the intersection will allow the contractor to complete these improvements much quicker and safer than allowing traffic through the construction area.

At Spring Avenue and DeWitt Avenue, PG & E will be undergrounding overhead electric lines and removing poles. Traffic control devices will be in place periodically while needed to accomplish the work. Dewitt Avenue, between Buck Hill Court and Spring will need to be closed in two/three weeks in order to complete the Hale Avenue Extension improvements within this area. Message boards will be in place in advance of the closure. This is done to expedite the work and for public/worker safety reasons. Please find an alternate route around the closure.

**Temporary Closure of Trail Along Madrone Channel

Valley Water will be installing a new groundwater monitoring well on the trail along the Madrone Channel. Due to the construction, the portion of the trail between Dunne Avenue and Tennant Avenue will be closed to public access for safety reasons from September 1, 2022 through September 20, 2022.

**2022 Pavement Rehabilitation Project

The City of Morgan Hill has an ongoing Pavement Rehabilitation Program intended to address the City's pavement rehabilitation needs. Throughout the next several months, you may see work in your neighborhood or along your regular route of travel throughout Morgan Hill. Teichert Construction and City of Morgan Hill will be starting our East Dunne Avenue Rehabilitation Project and 2022 Pavement Rehabilitation project on July 5, 2022. The work will begin from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Once paving work is completed, crews will start utility cover preparation and restoration, as well as final striping.

**Week of 8/1 to 8/5 from 8am to 5pm

8/1/22

• Paving at Vineyard Blvd and Mast Avenue (Expect Delays due to construction.)
• Raise Manhole Covers along East Dunne Avenue from City Limits to Lower Thomas Grade
• Raise Manhole Covers at Murphy and Hill Road

8/2/22

• Paving at Church Street (Expect Delays due to Construction)
• Raise Manhole Covers along East Dunne Avenue from City Limits to Lower Thomas Grade
• Raise Manhole Covers at Hill Road
• Detector Loop Install at Hill Road/East Dunne

8/3/22

• Grind and Pave Lindo Lane and El Toro Court (Expect Delays due to construction. Traffic will be limited to local residents and emergency vehicles only)
• Raise Manhole Covers along East Dunne Avenue from City Limits to Hill Road
• Detector Loop Install at Hill Road/East Dunne

8/4/22

• Grind and Pave Lindo Lane and El Toro Court (Expect Delays due to construction. Traffic will be limited to local residents and emergency vehicles only)
• Perform Grind and Pavement at Old Monterey Road and Llagas Road (Expect Delays due to construction)
• Raise Manhole Covers at East Dunne Avenue from City Limits to Hill Road

8/5/22

• Perform Miscellaneous Dig outs in Jackson Oaks Area (Expect Delays due to construction)
• Grind and Pave portion of Oakridge Court
• Raise Manhole Covers at East Dunne Avenue from City Limits to Hill Road

The above schedule is based on necessary conditions and is subject to change. Residents and businesses in the impacted area will receive a notice from the contractor prior to work beginning in the area. Any parking restrictions will be posted on the affected streets a minimum of 72 hours prior to the operation. Work is tentatively scheduled to be completed by October 2022. For additional information, please visit our project website at https://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/1854/Pavement-Rehabilitation-Program.

-East Dunne Avenue Rehabilitation Project

Contractor will begin lowering utility boxes starting on July 5^th and work their way westbound from near Anderson Lake Bridge (City limit line) and head westbound on Dunne Avenue. Traffic control will be implemented beginning July 5^th. The project will continue through the end of September.

-One-Lane Traffic on Condit Road near Chrysler Dealership

Condit Road will have one-lane traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Traffic controls will be in place. It is anticipated that one-lane traffic will be in place for several weeks.

-Significant Utility Related Roadwork to Occur Throughout Morgan Hill

Several communications companies are currently working on upgrading and installing new communication cables and conduit throughout the city. This work includes cutting into the roadway and placing or repairing cables and conduit. This work includes placing fiber optic cable on existing poles or installing new underground facilities into the roadway and/or onto sidewalk areas.

Construction crews for Frontier will be on Dunne Avenue from lower Thomas Grade near Gallop Drive up to upper Thomas Grade near Oak Leaf Drive for the next two weeks placing fiber optic internet cables. Crews will be confined to the shoulder area of the downhill portion of the roadway; however, they may be required to briefly stop traffic for repositioning. Please travel through the construction area with caution and obey all warning signs and traffic flaggers.

Work is occurring in multiple areas and may include road closures or lane reductions. You may also see paint markings or small flags of varying color for utilities in your area. These markings are to indicate the locations other utility lines in the area, and to ensure that damage and outages do not occur as a result of the work the telecommunications company is doing to update or install their cables. This work should not impact your utility service. Utility companies should be using chalk paint so the markings will remain only temporarily.

One of the largest companies doing work throughout the city is Frontier Communications who is using the subcontractor HCI, Inc. for the installation. HCI will be placing door hangers in neighborhoods prior to the start of work. HCI may be required to place new underground facilities and equipment in some neighborhoods. In those cases, there will be three phases of installation: 1. Marking and exposing of existing utilities, 2. Installation of conduit, utility boxes and Fiber Optic lines and 3. Restoration of concrete sidewalk and asphalt roadway. Temporary trench backfill and temporary trench coverings may be used for a period of time prior to restoration. The full installation process could take up to 3 weeks to complete. For information on the Frontier project and service availability residents can contact Frontier directly at 833-258-2434 or GetFrontierFiber.com.

Please remember to drive cautiously through construction areas and follow signage for detours. Whenever possible, try to utilize alternate routes while the work is being completed.

If you have questions or see anything that looks unsafe, please contact the City of Morgan Hill at [email protected]. For immediate safety issues call 911.

-Depot/Church Realignment Project

The Depot/Church Realignment Project will realign Depot Street with Church Street through the Community and Cultural Center (CCC) Parking lot. This project is intended to improve traffic flow into and around the Downtown area. The project is being coordinated with a private residential project to be constructed on the former Hale Lumber site. Project work in the public right-of-way began the week of March 28, 2022, with work continuing through August of 2022.

Work for the week of August 1, 2022, includes utility work that requires a temporary lane reduction on Dunne Avenue traveling eastbound and westbound between Butterfield and Monterey Road. Traffic control will be in place where a lane reduction is required. Please drive safely through these project areas. Follow traffic control signage and detours and use alternate routes whenever possible.

During this project, the main entrance to the Community and Cultural Center parking lot, located at Dunne Avenue and Church Street will be closed. The entrance at Depot Street will also be closed. There will be a temporary loss of parking spaces during the project. Access to the parking lot at the Fifth Street entrance will remain open. Please remember to drive cautiously through construction areas and follow signage for detours. We recommend utilizing alternative routes as much as possible while the work is being completed. Updates will be available on the project website page at www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/2284/DepotChurch-Realignment-Project

-Temporary Closure of Ciolino Avenue between Monterey Road and Del Monte Avenue

From April 21, 2022, to October 5, 2022, Ciolino Avenue from Monterey Road to Del Monte Avenue will be closed to through traffic, but access to all residences and/or businesses will be provided. Utility relocations and the construction of a double box culvert will be installed under Ciolino Avenue.

-Temporary Closure of Del Monte Avenue between Dunne and Ciolino Avenue

Del Monte Avenue between Dunne and Ciolino Avenue will be closed through November 2022. Traffic control will be in place for the installation of a new water line and then to construct the double box culvert.

-Temporary Closure of Sections of Mission View Drive and Eagle View Drive

The City has elected to temporarily close sections of Mission View Drive and Eagle View Drive to aid in the prevention and enforcement of unsafe use of the streets in this area. Roadway closures began in February 2021. For additional information visit: https://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/373/Traffic-and-Transportation-Management

-West Little Llagas Creek Trail Extension to Silveira Lake Closed

In collaboration with Valley Water and Graniterock Construction, an approximately two-mile paved trail has been installed along the maintenance road at West Little Llagas Creek from Monterey Road to Middle Avenue and Watsonville Road. While the trail portion of the project is completed, there is still additional work that Graniterock Construction is completing. The trail will be closed to use until all work is completed and the crossings at Middle Avenue and Watsonville Road are completed.

-Downtown Public Spaces

The City of Morgan Hill is working with local businesses in the Downtown to allow business uses, such as restaurants, to expand onto sidewalks, parking spaces and other public spaces. There may be limited traffic control devices and construction work occurring on Monterey Road and adjacent side streets in the Downtown. For information contact Chris Ghione at [email protected].

Major Projects:

-Edes Art Gallery at Second Street and Monterey Road

The Edes Art Gallery on 2^nd Street and Monterey Road in downtown has received building permits. This is a 2-story, 6,600 SF building for a fine art gallery.

-Hale Avenue Extension Project (Phase I)

The City Council awarded the construction contract to DeSilva Gates Construction for $14.1M at the November 18, 2020, meeting. Construction is largely funded by VTA's Measure B Program ($16.5M). The funding for the project was approved at the June 17, 2020, City Council Meeting. City Council certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and adopted the Hale Avenue Plan Line on August 23, 2017.

The project will be constructed in two Phases. This will allow Valley Water's Llagas Creek Flood Control project to install underground improvements first. The first phase (awarded to DeSilva Gates) will construct Hale Avenue between the Spring/Dewitt intersection to Warren Avenue. The second phase will construct Hale Avenue between Warren Avenue and 300 feet north of the Main/Hale intersection as soon as the Flood Control project improvements are complete.

As part of the Hale Avenue Extension project, the city will relocate three mature large oak trees to the project site in order to save them. They were originally scheduled to be removed as part of the Depot/Church Realignment Project at the Community and Cultural Center. Please click on the following link to find more information.

PROJECT UPDATE

**Work in August 2022 will include roundabout construction, roadway construction south of Dunne Avenue, installation of sidewalks, installation of street light foundation, and irrigation.

Saturday work is possible to make up time or perform unanticipated extra work.

Please respect all construction signage, as it is there for your safety and the safety of the workers. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

-Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project

SUMMARY: This project is being managed and implemented by Valley Water (formerly known as the "Santa Clara Valley Water District") to provide flood protection to the Morgan Hill community in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the State of California to plan, design, and construct improvements along 13.9 miles of channel. The federally authorized preferred project protects the urban area of Morgan Hill from a 1% (or 100-year) flood and reduces the frequency of flooding in surrounding areas. Construction includes channel modifications and replacement of road crossings.

West Little Llagas Creek Trail Extension to Silveira Lake: In collaboration with Valley Water and Graniterock Construction, an approximately two-mile paved trail has been installed along the maintenance road at West Little Llagas Creek from Monterey Road to Middle Avenue and Watsonville Road. While the trail portion of the project is completed, there is still additional work that Graniterock Construction is completing. The trail will be closed to use until all work is completed and the crossings at Middle Avenue and Watsonville Road are completed.

Phase 2A: (portion of Reach 8) Construct approximately 2,300 linear feet of a horseshoe-shaped underground tunnel 14 ft x 10 ft and approximately 1,600 linear feet of 10 ft x 9 ft twin Reinforced Concrete Box Culverts (RCBs) upstream and downstream of the proposed tunnel to carry high water flows in Morgan Hill. Low flows will remain within the existing creek that winds through downtown Morgan Hill in Reach 8. Construction is expected to take 2.5 years and will include traffic control, detours, utility coordination and relocation, and public outreach. The construction contract was awarded to Flatiron West, Inc. for $44 million dollars. Construction began on June 21, 2021. Flatiron and PG & E will be working on undergrounding overhead electric lines at the Hale/Main intersection. Other undergrounding work will include Warren and Nob Hill Avenues. Please click here for a map of the Phase 2 project.

PROJECT UPDATES

• Phase 2A of the project is currently under construction in Morgan Hill. Heavy machinery will be used to tunnel under Nob Hill, located between West Main Avenue and West Dunne Avenue. Traffic control will shift traffic lanes in phases throughout the construction process to install a pair of twin box culverts along a portion of Hale Avenue near West Main Avenue and West Dunne Avenue along Del Monte Avenue to and along Ciolino Avenue. A box culvert is an underground structure that acts as a tunnel that allows storm water to travel. With limited street parking, traffic control devices and construction in progress, we recommend alternative routes to avoid potential delays.
• Tunnel Work. Tunnel construction work began in February 2022 and will take approximately one year to complete. Material removed for the tunnel will be off hauled. Please drive carefully through the Hale and Main corridors.
• Ciolino Avenue from Monterey Road to Del Monte Avenue Closed. From April 21, 2022, to October 5, 2022, Ciolino Avenue from Monterey Road to Del Monte Avenue will be closed to through traffic, but access to all residences and/or businesses will be provided. Utility relocations and the construction of a double box culvert will be installed under Ciolino Avenue.
• Del Monte Avenue between Dunne and Ciolino Avenue closed. Traffic control will be in place for a few weeks to install a new water line to make room for the construction of the double box culvert. Water shutdowns will occur periodically. Residents and businesses will receive notification before the water shutdowns occur.

Learn more about this project at https://www.valleywater.org/upperllagas

-Madrone Channel Trail Project

Phase 1 improvements to the Madrone Channel Trail have been completed. This is the first of a two-phase project to provide a paved trail along Valley Water's Madrone Water Channel. This trail runs along the east side of Highway 101 for approximately 2.9 miles. The first phase is approximately 1.1 miles and includes a 6-foot-wide paved trail between Cochrane Avenue and Main Avenue. Learn more about this project at https://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/485/Capital-Improvement-Program. This project is made possible by Valley Water through the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, MTC Transportation Development Act (TDA) grant and the VTA Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) grant.

-Evergreen Village Project

This development project is a new 20.43 acre commercial and retail center located at the southeast corner of Butterfield Boulevard and Cochrane Road.

- Monterey Sewer Trunk Line to Gilroy Project

This project proposes to construct a new parallel sewer trunk line from the Harding/Highland intersection to Renz Road in Gilroy. Design plans have been reviewed by the stakeholders. The City presented the sewer alignment to the City of Gilroy on Monday, April 29, 2019, and the alignment was approved. The design is 95% completed with final design expected to be complete in Winter 2022. Construction of the parallel sewer trunk is currently not funded.

Additional Information Available.

**Maintenance Activities:

**Two Oak Trees at Paradise Park: On Monday, August 1^st, two Oak Trees at Paradise Park will be removed. Unfortunately, a large branch fell off one of the trees, and for safety reasons it needs to be fully removed. The branch fell onto a nearby tree, which severely damaged that tree, which also needs to be removed. For any questions or concerns, please contact Keri Russell at [email protected]

**Small Dog Park at Community Park: On Monday, August 1^st, from 12 - 4 p.m. the Small Dog Park at Community Park will be closed for tree work.

**Add channelizers to bike lane on Main Avenue near Condit Road

**Trimming of oleanders along Native Dancer

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