CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Work on two projects in the city of Clearlake meant to make children's pathways to school safer will begin this month.

Clearlake City Engineer Bob Galusha said the city's Safe Routes to School projects, located on Old Highway 53 and Dam Road, will begin on Wednesday, June 12, and Thursday, June 20, respectively.

The Clearlake City Council awarded the projects to Granite Construction of Ukiah at its meeting on Thursday, May 23, Galusha said.

The contract bid for both of the city's Safe Routes to School projects totals $552,256. Galusha said a federally funded grant administered through Caltrans is paying for the projects.

The project on Old Highway 53 extends from Lakeshore Drive to Olympic Drive, and on Dam Road the project runs from Lake Street to the entrance of Walmart, Galusha said.

Galusha said the Old Highway 53 project consists of widening, restriping and signing the existing road, and adding bike and pedestrian lanes on each side of the road. In addition five existing Lake Transit bus turnouts will be paved with asphalt concrete.

This Wednesday through Friday incidental storm drain and rock excavation work will take place and traffic will be reduced to one lane and controlled by flagman. Galusha said delays to motorists should be minimal.  

Between Monday, June 17, and Thursday, June 20, major roadway excavation and paving widening will occur on that section of Old Highway 53 and traffic will be reduced to one lane and controlled by flagman, Galusha said.

He advised motorists to use alternate routes during this excavation and paving operation as extended delays can be expected. Advanced electronic message boards will be placed in advance of the project start date to advise motorists of the upcoming street work and that delays can be expected.

The second Safe Routes to School project consists of rehabilitating and widening the narrow section of Dam Road from Lake Street approximately 800 feet to the northwest, Galusha said.

In addition to widening the narrow section of Dam Road, the city's contractor will be restriping and signing the entire length of Dam Road for bike/pedestrian lanes from Lake Street to the Walmart entrance driveway, he said.

Work is scheduled to start on Thursday, June 20, and will extend through Friday, June 28, according to Galusha.

During the construction work on the 800 foot narrow section of Dam Road just north of Lake Street, Dam Road will be closed to through traffic between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Galusha said.

Local residents who live along that section of Dam Road will have access to their properties but it will be limited during the construction hours, he said.

Through traffic will be detoured around the project via Highway 53 through Lower Lake and/or Jesse Street. Galusha said advanced electronic message boards will be placed before the project start date to advise motorists of the upcoming street work.