City may temporarily re-open southbound lanes of Monterey,
closed since January
Gilroy – Downtown businesses may get a brief rest at the end of March from pavement pounding cranes before another round of heavy construction shuts down both sides of Monterey Street.
PG&E work crews installing new gas mains along the southbound lane of Monterey Street will be wrapping up their work in coming days, according to City Transportation Engineer Don Dey.
He said the city will temporarily re-open the southbound lane, closed between Sixth and Fourth streets since January, if there is a gap between the time PG&E leaves and major street construction commences along the same two-block stretch.
The Streetscape project involves tearing up a two-block stretch of Monterey Street and repaving the road, widening sidewalks and installing new street lamps and other improvements.
Golden Bay Construction, the San Carlos company hired to perform the work, is expected to close both lanes of Monterey Street and begin construction in early April, according to Dey.
The city plans to reopen both lanes to traffic once the roadwork is complete, though parking will remain limited for most of the year as sidewalk construction continues. The city hopes to have the project complete in time for the 2006 holiday shopping season.
“We’re still looking at having all of the roadway finished by the end of July or beginning of August, and having the sidewalk work finished by the end of October,” Dey said. “Golden Bay is well aware of our schedule and they’ve given us no indication that that’s not doable.”
