MARTINEZ, Calif. – Motorists in Martinez may be noticing more signs announcing a Measure D road repair project is underway, according to an announcement released by Rica Guidry, Martinez’s executive assistant to the city manager.
Measure D, approved by voters in 2016, is the half-cent sales and transaction tax that raises money exclusively for maintenance and repair of Martinez roads, which had declined to the point they were judged the second-worst in Contra Costa County during a regional pavement evaluation. Only Orinda’s roads were considered worse.
The state didn’t start collecting the tax until April 2017, and the money had to accumulate through much of that year and part of 2018 before there was enough to start individual projects.
Before approving a series of first-year projects, a citizens’ panel was formed that assures the revenues would be spent appropriately. During public meetings, city officials listened to residents weighing in with their paving concerns.
Now those pavement jobs have started, Guidry’s statement said.
For instance, last week, the first phase of paving work began on portions of Center Avenue near Nob Hill Shopping Center.
MCK Services of Martinez has the contract for the 2018-19 Paving Project, which will be underwritten with $1,351,300 in Measure D funds, $1,280,361 in Measure J funds and gasoline tax money, Guidry’s statement said. Measure J bonds were approved by voters in 2012.
In a job that will continue through December, MCK will be repairing potholes and base failures on city streets in a dozen areas, the statement said. Those streets then will be scheduled for cape sealing.
In the Center Avenue area, curb ramps that don’t meet American with Disability Act standards will be replaced. An asphalt overlay will be applied to Center Avenue south of Muir Road and Center Avenue from Vine Hill Way to Redwood Drive.
Motorists in the area will receive advisories about the work through message boards placed on Center Avenue. Guidry’s statement said.
The 2018-19 Measure D Pavement Rehabilitation Project has an allocation of $2,725,000, which American Pavement Systems, Inc., of Modesto, will use in its contract to cape seal some streets in residential area streets throughout Martinez. Other streets will get microseals.
That work will start once the base failure and pothole repairs are completed by MCK.
Additional information and updates on Measure D projects will be released periodically by the city, including at the next street selection workshop which will take place sometime in January 2019, the statement said.
