Work to improve a storm drain line on Highway 120/Jackson Avenue at Mitchell Avenue in Escalon will hopefully mean fewer problems with persistent flooding there come next rainy season.
Crews from Arnaudo Construction of Tracy were in the area over the past week, digging up the line and completing the improvements.
"It is an upgrade of the storm drain inlets," explained Escalon City Engineer John Abrew. "This is in an area of localized flooding that we typically have trouble with during the rainy weather."
The street in that area frequently floods during times of heavy rain, as the storm drain inlet was not large enough to handle the influx of water. Now with the larger inlet, Abrew said officials hope the standing water will be a thing of the past.
"This is one specific project," Abrew added of the roughly $24,000 improvement project. "We look at the city overall and try to knock off a few of these every year."
One lane in the area was coned off during the work but motorists were able to utilize the middle turn lane so there were no traffic tie-ups, although it did move more slowly through the area.
The city's Public Works crews will be doing a number of small projects throughout the summer months as well, addressing issues they can't do in the wet, rainy weather.
Also, Abrew said there are some large projects on the horizon.
"We're hoping to see progress on the McHenry widening and the Brennan and Highway 120 signal lights," he said of efforts being done in cooperation with county and state agencies. "The City Hall project is a big deal, we'll be working on the later this summer."
City Hall, which is currently on Coley Avenue, plans to relocate to the shell next door to the police department when it is built out, with a design-build effort approved by council members for the 2060 McHenry Avenue property.
Crews from Arnaudo Construction of Tracy were in the area over the past week, digging up the line and completing the improvements.
"It is an upgrade of the storm drain inlets," explained Escalon City Engineer John Abrew. "This is in an area of localized flooding that we typically have trouble with during the rainy weather."
The street in that area frequently floods during times of heavy rain, as the storm drain inlet was not large enough to handle the influx of water. Now with the larger inlet, Abrew said officials hope the standing water will be a thing of the past.
"This is one specific project," Abrew added of the roughly $24,000 improvement project. "We look at the city overall and try to knock off a few of these every year."
One lane in the area was coned off during the work but motorists were able to utilize the middle turn lane so there were no traffic tie-ups, although it did move more slowly through the area.
The city's Public Works crews will be doing a number of small projects throughout the summer months as well, addressing issues they can't do in the wet, rainy weather.
Also, Abrew said there are some large projects on the horizon.
"We're hoping to see progress on the McHenry widening and the Brennan and Highway 120 signal lights," he said of efforts being done in cooperation with county and state agencies. "The City Hall project is a big deal, we'll be working on the later this summer."
City Hall, which is currently on Coley Avenue, plans to relocate to the shell next door to the police department when it is built out, with a design-build effort approved by council members for the 2060 McHenry Avenue property.
