Clara Avenue Improvement

Detours, beeping trucks and trenches will be the norm this fall on Clara Ave
as the street's components are upgraded.  This summer the Ukiah City
Council approved the 1.2 million dollar budget and street plan which  included
the $400,000 grant funds from State proposition 1B approved last year.
The 1B funds will go directly to the complete restructuring, drainage,
sidewalks and pavement reconstruction for the 300 block which is Clara's
roughest and most wanting stretch of road.

The project at hand has 3 components.  The 300 block, a complete
make-over is the first. The second and third parts include a new water main
with individual residential hook ups on the remainder of Clara plus storm
drainage. The water line is a major upgrade, from 4 inch to 6 inch pipe,
and is tricky since it needs to be tunneled under the railroad tracks.

Phases of the project have been in the works for several years under
the guidance of City Engineer Tim Erickson, Ukiah's Public Works
Director.  The project began with the street improvement 'Plan'
initiated by the City. Fortunately for the Wagenseller Neighborhood,
the City listened to and responded favorably to the input on design
voiced by the residents. The Plan design includes bulb outs at key corner
to help with safe pedestrian crossing, traffic calming and aesthetics.
Next the allocation of the state 1B funds were approved and later
enhanced to include the scope of the day.

Agra-naut of Rohnert Park earned the construction bid award.
According to the City Planning Dept, their bid, the lowest, was
still higher than the approved 1.2 million. However the City
hopes to augment the funds to complete the project as planned.