GILROY
– Downtown businesses will have to bear with torn-up sidewalks
and sounds of jackhammers outside their storefronts months longer
than originally expected. But, at their urging, construction crews
will work six days a week to finish work more quickly.
GILROY – Downtown businesses will have to bear with torn-up sidewalks and sounds of jackhammers outside their storefronts months longer than originally expected. But, at their urging, construction crews will work six days a week to finish work more quickly.
The city was supposed to finish the project, which will add wider decorative sidewalks, a 14-foot-wide landscaped median, decorative crosswalks and street trees by Sept. 3. Now, the city plans to notify downtown businesses next week of a revised timeline calling for the completion of the second phase of the Monterey Streetscape Improvement Project sometime during February.
“It’s like remodeling an old house – there’s always things that come up,” said Kristi Abrams, Gilroy traffic engineer and city project manager.
To make up for the delays, contractors will work Saturdays with extended crews through Thanksgiving to complete the sidewalks, landscaping and lighting on the east and west sides of Monterey Street between Sixth and Seventh streets.
They will then clean up the area and suspend work until January to minimize any impact on merchants over the holiday season. Depending on the weather, the crosswalk and median should be completed in February, Abrams said.
“The contractor could work through the holidays, but out of goodwill to the city, they are willing to clean it up and remobilize, which is costing them more money,” Abrams said.
Although the contractors are responsible for some delays, they also came across unexpected problems. They had to replace water and sewer lines and conduct water bacteria testing which added about a month to the project.
The city has kept communication open with downtown merchants since phase II began in May. They distribute a monthly update and visit merchants to answer questions and hear concerns.
Further, the city held two public meetings in late August to update businesses on the progress. At that time, city staff mentioned the possibility of construction extending into the weekend. However, apartment residents in the Milias Apartments, above Harvest Time Restaurant, and downtown merchants didn’t express concerns about the extended hours.
“They just want it done,” Abrams said.
Susan Valenta, executive director of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce was pleased with the presentation and understood that with any construction project, there are unforeseen delays.
“Kristi Abrams is trying to minimize disturbances. Right now, it is uncomfortable for businesses, but in the long run we will have an improvement that will last for decades,” she said.
While Econo Furniture owner, Dan Taraghi, understands the Streetscape Project is designed to improve business downtown, he doesn’t think he will ever make up the $400,000 he lost. His store is located at 7390 Monterey St., on the east side.
“Every time I called the city for the past couple of months, they’ve said it will be done in two weeks. My business is hurting, and I don’t think that by putting new streets in, I will get back the money I lost,” he said.
Abrams said the city has continued to notify the public that downtown businesses are open during construction. Further, Abrams said it is illegal for the city – as a public entity – to compensate private businesses.
Construction has not yet begun on the west side of Monterey Street. Merchants including David Porcella of Porcella’s Musical Instruments and Accessories and Bob Platt of Harvest Time Restaurant aren’t concerned about the possible affects of the construction. However, they are nervous that rain could further delay the project even further.
Despite delays, the project will not go overbudget as the contractor must absorb costs for failing to complete the project on time. The city will also request fines, liquid data damages, which will be calculated after the project is finished. The total cost of the project is $1.6 million.
“The prime contractor (Golden Bay Construction) has been doing everything they can to take care of the city, but the subcontractors did run into some unforeseen problems,” Abrams said.
Although delays on phase II will not directly affect phase III, on the Fifth and Sixth street block of Monterey Street, the city and contractors will meet to discuss lessons learned before continuing with the next step.
The city will apply for more grant money to pay for phase III.
