Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 160-2022 authorizing the extension of the temporary closure of a portion of Beatty Drive in El Dorado Hills for a period of seventy-four (74) additional days past the closure end date of October 19, 2022.
FUNDING: Developer Funded.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On June 14, 2022 (Item 36, Legistar 22-0694), the Board approved Road Improvement Agreement 22-55016 for Beatty Drive, TM 08-1477 (Agreement), between the County and The New Home Company Northern California LLC (Developer). The Agreement requires the Developer to prepare a traffic control plan and states that no road closure will be permitted without the approval of the Board.
As part of the same action, the Board adopted Resolution 074-2022, approving the temporary closure of Beatty Drive in El Dorado Hills for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days. Effective June 21, 2022, the road segment was closed, and the one hundred twenty (120) day closure period began.
The construction of the road improvements has been delayed due to on-site conditions requiring more extensive work than initially anticipated. Adverse site conditions include extensive rock excavation not revealed by initial geotechnical studies and the presence of existing utilities, which has hindered blasting in critical locations. Additionally, due to the site’s layout, ongoing work was required to build and subsequently relocate 20’ wide all-weather access roads to maintain the required fire department access throughout the project. The Developer has requested, and Department of Transportation (Transportation) staff have concurred, that extending the road closure would be the best course of action to allow for the completion of improvements with the fewest additional impacts to residents.
California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) authorizes the Board to adopt a resolution authorizing a public officer to close a public road if it is necessary for the safety and protections of persons who use that street, and California Streets and Highways Code Section 942.5 authorizes the Board to close a county highway when it is necessary during construction, improvement, or maintenance operations.
The proposed resolution would authorize the Director of Transportation to extend the temporary closure of a portion of Beatty Drive to detour traffic and establish alternate access routes for traffic use during the time of temporary closure. The closure is scheduled to end on October 19, 2022, and the extension would allow the closure for a period of seventy-four (74) additional calendar days, including weekends and holidays, or until the Director of Transportation determines that the improvements are complete, whichever is sooner.
Transportation is recommending that the Board finds the extension of the closure necessary for the safety and protections of persons who are to use that portion of the street during construction, improvement, or maintenance and adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the extension of the temporary closure of a portion of Beatty Drive. Transportation will provide notification of the pending temporary road closure and alternate routes to the County Supervisors, business owners, residents, the general public, and safety and law enforcement agencies in the Project area through direct communications, signage, or flyers.
ALTERNATIVES
This proposed Resolution is necessary for the Developer to finish the construction of the Beatty Drive improvements. If it is not approved, the Developer would be required to re-open the road immediately as a single unpaved lane with reversing traffic control and continue work, further extending the necessary construction time and potentially creating traffic issues.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
As outlined in the Discussion / Background section above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, El Dorado Hills Fire Department
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The requested Board action has no associated fiscal impact or change to Net County Cost. The Developer will bear the cost of constructing the improvements in the proposed Agreement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on the resolution.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward a fully executed copy of the resolution to Transportation, attn.: Lindsay Tallman.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation