City clears way for road, sewer-pipe project
A $2.1-million road-rehab and sewer-pipe project in the San Fernando Road corridor will get underway next year following City Council’s approval to award a contract on Tuesday.
A 5-0 vote was the final green light to initiate trench work on several streets including Brand Boulevard between Vassar Avenue and San Fernando Road as well as Gardena Avenue between Tyburn and Topock streets.
Existing 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch sewer lines will be upsized to 12-inch, 15-inch and 18-inch pipes to allow for higher capacity of wastewater, said Public Works Director Roubik Golanian during the council meeting.
He said traffic will be impacted, but work would be carried out in a way so at least one lane will remain open in each direction.
Damaged curbs will also be repaired, and new pavement, partially made from rubberized tires, is planned to be added in the area as well.
“It typically lasts from 20 to 25 years and provides for a quieter and smoother ride and better traction for tires,” Golanian said.
A similar project is currently underway at Pacific Avenue and Burchett Street.
The contract was awarded to Long Beach-based Excel Paving Co., whose price tag for the project came in 11% under city estimates.
The company has done work in Glendale before including a similar project along Glendale Avenue.
“I know when contractor bids come in significantly below our engineers’ estimates, red flags go off,” said Councilman Zareh Sinanyan. “I think this entity has plenty of experience with their previous work. I’m not too worried that it’s $250,000 below the mark. We’re happy about it.”
The project is scheduled to get underway in February and last six months, though the expected El Niño — depending on its severity — could delay some of the work, Golanian said.
Councilwoman Laura Friedman asked why the scope of the project did not include any stormwater retention features such as bio-swales that would send water to the underground aquifer.
The city will install its first bio-swales in the downtown area next year.
Golanian said pavement has to be at a certain grade for bio-swales to work and that’s not the case with the improvement project slated in the San Fernando Road corridor.
“This area is extremely flat, and it doesn’t provide for enough grade that we can effectively collect a sufficient amount of water,” he said.
Friedman also asked about permeable paving, which has already been put down in different spots throughout the community.
“We need to get water into the ground,” she said. “I hope that’s something we’re taking seriously, and we’re looking at with every single project public works does.”
Golanian said, however, the project area wouldn’t be suitable because permeable paving is meant for streets with less traffic.
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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com
Twitter: @ArinMikailian
