City Manager’s Message May 2019

We have some key updates on construction around our city to share with you.

Beginning in May of this year we will launch construction on the Eisenhower Retention Basin Project. The drainage improvements and storm water retention includes a 6.3 acres, 8-foot-deep retention basin located near the intersection of Eisenhower Drive and Avenida Fernando. The basin is designed to collect runoff from the intersections of Eisenhower Drive/Coachella Drive and Eisenhower Drive/Avenida Fernando, and accept overflow from the Legacy Villas development. This project will provide flood protection for up to 150 years of storms.

The Pavement Management Plan Improvements will also start in May and will be completed by July. The improvements include more than 245,000 square feet of pavement rehabilitation on Avenue 52 between SilverRock Way and Jefferson Street. The project will grind the existing pavement, install a new layer of pavement, and include minor pothole hole repairs and striping improvements on Blackhawk Way.

Finally, the Jefferson Street Sidewalk Gap Closure is scheduled to begin and should be completed in June. The project will construct 900 feet of new sidewalk, provide a new ADA accessible ramp, and reconstruct one curb ramp on the west side of Jefferson Street between Avenue 50 and Derek Alan Drive.

In June, construction is anticipated to begin along Calle Tampico in the first phase of the La Quinta Complete Streets project. The project is focused on making roadways safer and more accessible to pedestrians and received $7.3 million in funding through a grant program called the “Active Transportation Program.” The project will construct five roundabouts in the Village area located at Tampico/Bermudas, Tampico/Desert Club, Tampico/Eisenhower, Eisenhower/Montezuma and Bermudas/52 Sinaloa. It will also reduce Calle Tampico, Calle Sinal oa/Avenue 52 and Eisenhower Drive from four lanes to two lanes to make room for pedestrian, bicycle, golf cart and neighborhood electric vehicle facilities, incorporating drainage and landscape improvements.

In addition, construction will commence on the Dune Palms Road Widening Project. The plan will widen Dune Palms Road from Blackhawk Way to the northern approach of the future Dune Palms bridge from two to four lanes. It will also include construction of a new northbound travel lane, curb and gutter, and six-foot-wide, curb-adjacent sidewalks.

La Quinta has received federal grant funding for the Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) Intersection Improvements Project currently underway. This project will upgrade the signal cabinets at eight intersections, cabinet controllers at fifteen intersections, and replace all intersection safety lighting and internally illuminated street name signs with LED lights. The project will also update all intersection street name sign panels and is completion is anticipated in August of this year.

SDC started mass grading by rating the SilverRock Event Site and the Montage residential parcel. The electrical utility relocation is underway which will facilitate grading of the Montage Hotel parcel and the temporary clubhouse construction at SilverRock will commence in late May/early June.

As always, the entire staff at the City of La Quinta is honored to serve you.

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