Transportation

Supervisors Approve Road Resurfacing, Safety Improvements

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San Diego County supervisors voted unanimously to spend roughly $5 million to resurface roads around the county and another $180,000 to make Valley Center Road safer Wednesday.

The Board of Supervisors voted to set aside $5.06 million and to seek bids and award contracts to companies to resurface portions of up to 37 roads in unincorporated communities around the county. They include Bonsall, Casa de Oro, Harbison Canyon, San Pasqual and Spring Valley, and unincorporated areas near Escondido and National City. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be completed by winter of 2014.

County Department of Public Work (DPW) crews care for more than 1,930 miles of roads, enough to stretch from San Diego County to Mobile, Alabama.

DPW uses several tactics — including visual and mechanical inspection, and taking input from people and communities — to determine which County roads need resurfacing every year. Resurfacing keeps drivers and the public safe, and prevents roadways from wearing down to the point they need more expensive repair work.

In another action at Wednesday’s Board meeting, supervisors approved using a $180,000 payment from the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Wednesday to make several safety improvements to Valley Center Road between the city of Escondido and North Lake Wohlford Road in Valley Center.

The payment is part of the tribe’s agreement with the County to help offset the increased traffic created by their casino and planned expansion.

Supervisor Bill Horn, whose fifth district includes Valley Center, said the Valley Center Road area is actually affected by four tribal casinos, and the money would pay for several safety improvements. Some of those include a new 60-foot median, concrete sidewalks and digital, radar-speed signs to help slow traffic at four locations along Valley Center Road.

 

 

Gig Conaughton is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact