The Scoop: Week of January 31, 2022

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-Storm Preparation: Sand bags available for residents

Morgan Hill city streets may flood during intense rain events. This is especially common in the areas of the City within the high risk 100-year flood zone which runs along West Little Llagas Creek throughout the City. You can view a map of the Flood Zone in the City's Flood Report. If you observe flooding, clogged storm drains or other storm related issues you can report this to the Morgan Hill Corporation Yard during regular working hours at 408-776-7333, or for after-hours reporting you can call into the Morgan Hill Police Department at 408-779-2101. Sand bags are available for free to residents and located at the El Toro Fire Station, 18300 Old Monterey Road, and the Corporation Yard, 100 Edes Court. The El Toro Fire Station may have a limited number of pre-filled sand bags. The Corporation Yard has bags and sand that residents can fill themselves.

Traffic Delays in the Weeks Ahead:

-Hale Avenue Extension Project

The contractor will continue working in the vicinity of DeWitt Avenue at Spring Avenue to install utility improvements. Traffic controls will be in place during the daytime, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tentative dates: January 20^th through February 20th. Although the road will be open, please anticipate delays through this area. A full road closure may be possible during this time, however, advance notice will be provided.

Work along Dunne Avenue will also impact traffic flow as the contractor needs to install a water line across the road. The City plans to keep the road open to traffic, but expect delays. This work is expected to take place in February 2022.

-2020 Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Project
No updates at this time. The project is on hold this week.

-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

-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:

- 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. Please click on the following link to find more information.

PROJECT UPDATE

Commencement of construction (Phase I) started on April 5, 2021. Roadway rough grading both north and south of Dunne Avenue are complete. Storm drain, water and electrical utilities are installed both north and south of Dunne Avenue. Sound wall #2 has been installed. Additional erosion control measures were installed to protect the site. Construction activities have slowed due to the weather. However, the project will continue through the rainy season. Work in February 2022 will include; joint trench work at Spring, water line installation and connections at Dunne, begin sound wall #1 foundations, and begin roadway construction/roundabout north of Dunne.

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. Remaining work includes the planting of trees along the backside of Butterfield Chanel from Dunne Avenue to just south of Tennant Avenue. This is all weather pending. Additional information and project updates are available on the City's website at http://bit.ly/ButterfieldExtensionProject

-Britton Middle School Safety Enhancement Project

The Britton Middle School Pedestrian Enhancement Project will improve pedestrian access and safety in the area surrounding Britton Middle School. The proposed improvements will include increased lighting, the undergrounding of overhead utilities along the west side of Monterey Road fronting the school, new sidewalk improvements along the school frontage on Central Avenue and driveway modifications to both school driveways on Central Avenue to improve pedestrian safety at these locations for both students and residents in the area. Project is currently in the punch list stage. Other remaining work is to fill in concrete sidewalk where poles were removed by PG & E.

-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. Once the sewer replacement is completed, the street will also be repaved. Pacific Underground Construction was awarded the contract in the amount of $1,226,730 at the June 23, 2021 City Council meeting. Work along East Fifth Street from Depot Street to Monterey Road will begin Monday 1/31/22 with the main line completed in two weeks. There is a possibility that the Contractor will be saw cutting along East Fifth Street between Monterey and Depot Street. 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.

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.
• Main and Hale Intersection: While traffic will still be allowed through the intersection, significant traffic control devices will be installed to shift lanes in phases to provide space for the workers and equipment for installing underground utilities. Work could start as early as February 1, 2022 and continue through all of February. Please remember to drive cautiously through construction areas and follow signage for detours. Again, please use alternate routes as much as possible while the work is being completed.
• Warren Avenue: Construction of sound barrier and installation of tunnel access shoring is complete.
• Del Monte Avenue between Spring and Dunne Avenues: Installing new sewer main and relocating utilities. Traffic controls in place, expect delays. Watch for traffic controls and speed limit restrictions. Thank you.

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

Additional Information Available.

Maintenance Activities:

-Weed abatement along City right of ways.

-Continue storm system work orders

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