I see there was a statement in the Red Phone about the bridge
Caltrans is building on 152. I had absolutely no idea that they
would pretty much mow over beautiful old spruces there.
“I see there was a statement in the Red Phone about the bridge Caltrans is building on 152. I had absolutely no idea that they would pretty much mow over beautiful old spruces there. I’m wondering, was there no way for the city and county to work together to work on a plan that didn’t include losing about 15 really, really old trees along the parallel there? I’m sure that’s where the bridge is going. I hope it’s as lovely as the trees that were there and not just another concrete slab for people to graffiti on. Could you reply with the reason why and how and if in the future trees like that could be saved and considered in part of the plan. Thank you.”
Red Phone: Dear If A Tree Falls, The rebuilding of the Uvas Creek Bridge on Hecker Pass Highway is one of several projects that Caltrans is working on in the county. Initial work to clear vegetation began on Feb. 3, and bridge construction is scheduled to begin in the middle of June. There will be a new retaining wall and wider shoulder to accommodate bike traffic. It looks like there is some good news about the trees in the area. The new bridge will be built north of the existing bridge to save the trees on the south side.
“Twenty seven trees have been salvaged, said Benjamin Edokpayi, the Caltrans District 4 Public Information Officer. “The department will replant these trees as part of a future highway planting project. No trees will be removed on the south side of Highway 152. The majority of the trees have been cleared on the north side of the project. The department is working with the city and Gilroy Gardens on the future replanting of the area in the vicinity of the Gilroy Gardens entrance. We expect this to commence immediately once the roadwork has been completed.”
To see the initial impact report for the Uvas Creek Bridge Project, click on the link on the right.
How to solve all Gilroy’s problems
“What is Gilroy thinking? Caltrans is cutting down all those trees and widening the west 152. Why? Is there a traffic jam there? Why is Gilroy not working on the problem with the traffic south 101 to east 152? How about looking into making a Highway 152 – U.S. 101 turn-off somewhere around Masten Avenue and run it way east of Gilroy and hook up with Highway 152. That would lower the traffic backup and mess from people coming or going to Los Banos. Instead we are cutting down pretty trees on the other side of town on west 152 making the road wider for all the people that are coming to Gilroy Gardens. Sell Gilroy Gardens and build an extended Highway 152. Gilroy, what are you thinking? Also, we have remodeled downtown Gilroy a few times, and still you don’t see people sitting on the downtown sidewalks having coffee or lunch like in Morgan Hill. We need Gilroy to look like Old Sacramento, with wooden sidewalks. I thought Gilroy was known as a cowboy town? No one even walks downtown. Come on folks, you know downtown Gilroy is ugly, and I would rather go to Morgan Hill to sit on the sidewalk and sip on some coffee.”
Red Phone: Dear No Place To Call Home, before you make a road trip to Morgan’s Hill’s famous downtown, take a deep breath. Sacramento has a lot of things Gilroy doesn’t have, i.e. a train museum, a minor league ball park and of course the governor and his cronies. But it also has half a million people. That doesn’t mean Gilroy can’t emulate what such places as Sacramento or Santa Cruz have done well to attract more visitors.
It sounds like you have some good ideas for the future of Gilroy. We’ll pass on your comments to city and county officials and let you know what they think.
