The Scoop: Week of May 30, 2022

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

Traffic Delays or Closures in the Weeks Ahead:

**East Dunne Water Main Project

Approximately 90 feet of water main will be installed at East Dunne Avenue near Flaming Oaks Lane. Traffic controls will be in place starting Friday, May 27^th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The work will take approximately 10 working days.

-Construction Traffic on West Jarvis between Monday, May 30^th & Tuesday, June 7^th

Please note that there will be construction traffic on West Jarvis Drive between Monday, May 30^th and Tuesday, June 7^th due to the Sutter extension slurry seal project.

-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 May 30, 2022, includes the continued demolition of existing concrete and pavement at the worksite. Utilities work will continue and include a temporary lane reduction on Dunne Avenue traveling westbound between Butterfield and Monterey Road, and on Depot Street between E. 4^th Street and E. 5^th Street. 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

-Sewer Main Repair on Monterey Road between San Pedro and Post Office (2020 Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Project)
Work is substantially complete for this project unless there are additional sewer repairs to be performed.

-Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project-Ciolino 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

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.

-Hale Avenue Extension Project

No major work is scheduled for this week that will affect traffic. Although Dunne Avenue will be open, please anticipate delays through this area.

-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

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. When construction starts, the pop-up park will be dismantled. Park amenities will be relocated to other locations within the City, including the Downtown Parks.

-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 June 2022 will include installation of sound wall #1 panels, begin roadway construction/roundabout north of Dunne Avenue, construct bike path and median, complete Nob Hill Court and complete retaining wall #4.

Saturday work is possible in order 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.

-Butterfield Linear Park Extension Project

Butterfield Linear Park south of Tennant Avenue is now open. Project is substantially complete. Additional information and project updates are available on the City's website at http://bit.ly/ButterfieldExtensionProject

-East Fifth Street Sewer Project
The City of Morgan Hill is planning the replacement and upgrade of a sewer main on East Fifth Street between Monterey Road and Depot Street, through Hale Lumber Yard to Diana Avenue. The project is substantially complete. For additional information, visit: https://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/2129/East-5th-Street-Sewer-Main-Project

-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

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.

-Magical Bridge Playground in Community Park

Construction on the Magical Bridge Playground in Community Park is nearing completion. A portion of the Community Park trail and parking lot will remain closed due to the construction. The contractor has installed fencing around the project site and storage area. Anticipated completion in June. For project updates and announcements, please visit www.morganhill.ca.gov/magicalbridge.

-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 late Spring 2022. Construction of the parallel sewer trunk is currently not funded.

Additional Information Available.

**Maintenance Activities:

-2022 Sidewalk Repair Project

Starting the week of April 18th, the City will be replacing sidewalks in various areas throughout the City. All of these locations have already been marked for repair. In some locations the replacement of the sidewalk may require a tree to be removed. We expect this work to take several weeks to complete. Please contact Keri Russell, Maintenance Coordinator at [email protected] for any questions.

**Painting pickleball lines on basketball court at Community Park

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