DEL MAR — Pedestrians, many probably with pooches, will benefit from this year’s street and drainage capital project. The Public Works Department will add a 5-foot wide concrete sidewalk to the west side of Camino del Mar from Dog Beach to the Border Avenue and Via de la Valle intersection, which will be completely redone.
Improvements there include repaving, new signage and striping, storm drain upgrades and additional pedestrian ramps to allow four-way crossing.
Crossing at the intersection is currently legal from only two corners.
Curbs, gutters and a sidewalk will also be installed along the south side of Border Avenue. Bike lanes will be restriped throughout the project area where necessary.
The second half of the project will add a new drainage system to about 600 feet of roadway on the south side of San Dieguito Drive where potholes are filled with standing water.
“We’re not sure if it’s overwatering or ground water, but there is constantly puddling there on the south half of the road,” Public Works Director Eric Minicilli said during a sparsely attended informational open house at City Hall Annex on Feb. 6.
The estimated cost for both projects is $375,000, according to the bid request, which was open until Feb. 12.
Minicilli said the city received a $105,000 grant from the county Vector Control Program for the San Dieguito Road improvements because stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The $180,000 the city receives annually in TransNet funds will be used for work at the intersection and along Camino del Mar and Border Avenue. Money from the general fund will make up the shortfall, he said.
City Council is expected to take action on the improvements, including awarding a construction contract, at the Feb. 19 meeting.
Minicilli said work should begin in March and be complete before the San Diego County Fair opens June 8, however, the San Dieguito Road job might take a few weeks longer.
Contract bidders were given a May 17 deadline.
He said plans for the intersection improvements were complete in July. The ditch project has been in the works for a couple of years.
“Residents and the county brought it to our attention but we’ve known about it,” he said.
“As with all construction, it will be impactful,” Minicilli said. “There will be closures.” He said there could also be some very short-term disruption to water service in the immediate area.
