Council receives Spring Lake update
The Woodland City Council received an update last week regarding construction projects in the Spring Lake area.
“Our most active development area in the community is Spring Lake still,” City Manager Ken Hiatt said during the council’s April 18 meeting. “As I was reviewing with staff all the work that’s being managed out there… we thought it’d be appropriate to provide the community an update on some of these projects that are happening.”
The city staff report highlighted several projects, including parks, roads and a pedestrian overcrossing.
Parks
The report noted that Jack Slaven Park’s landscaping, including the dog exercise area, is nearly complete.
“Upon completion of the landscaping, the park improvements will remain fenced for 90 days to allow the planting to establish,” the report stated. “Remaining work on the basketball court, path lighting and electrical system will continue during this time.”
Completion of the basketball court may extend beyond the end of the plant establishment period because the work will be coordinated with the courts being constructed at Rick Gonzales and Spring Lake Parks, according to the report.
When discussing Rick Gonzales Sr. Park, the report explained that “the wet winter delayed progress on the construction of Rick Gonzales Sr. Park.”
“The contractor has completed the demolition, rough grading and subgrade and aggregate base preparation at the tennis and basketball courts,” the report emphasized. “The remaining work such as the irrigation, landscap
ing, pathway lighting, concrete, decomposed granite paths, sports courts and park furnishings are currently scheduled to be completed in June.”
The park is projected to be open to the public in September after the 90-day establishment period.
Wet winter weather also delayed progress for Spring Lake Park, but the contractor has completed the demolition and rough grading.
“The remaining work such as irrigation, landscaping, pathway lighting, concrete, decomposed granite paths, sports court, play area and park furnishings are currently scheduled to be completed in July,” the report highlighted. “The park is projected to be open to the public in October.”
Bike and pedestrian overcrossing
Construction of the Sports Park Drive Bike and Pedestrian Overcrossing over State Rout 113 is currently anticipated to be completed in May.
“Remaining work includes completion of the landscaping as well as remediation work on the project that requires clear weather to perform,” the report noted. “Upon completion of both the overcrossing and Spring Lake Park, the continuous pathway will open for public use. In the interim, the overcrossing path will terminate at the current utility maintenance access road that parallels the southern edge of Spring Lake Park.”
The report noted that this gravel maintenance road is not paved and, therefore not accessible to those with disabilities or intended for bicycle and pedestrian travel.
“The city does not encourage its use to access the pedestrian overcrossing path and instead requests that residents continue to use alternate paths to cross SR 113 until both projects are complete and open for public use,” the report stated. “Advisory signs are in place along the path.”
The city intents to host an event commemorating the formal opening of the overcrossing in coordination with the completion of the Spring Lake Parks, with a date that will be set as the city nears the completion of its projects.
“The city will share further information through social media, the city’s website, Spring Lake email lists and notices at each of the Spring Lake neighborhood parks,” the report assured.
Roads
A project aimed to complete the full four-lane improvements from the Pioneer High School entrance to Farmers Central Road is planned to be finished by the end of summer this year.
The project will include a new traffic signal at the Pioneer Avenue and Farmers Central Road intersection as well as a new off-street bike path on the west side of Pioneer Avenue.
Additionally, the city plans on completing a new signalized intersection at Gibson Road and Harry Lorenzo Avenue, and Bourn Drive over the summer while school is out of session.
“The existing median will be modified and a new signalized intersection installed to allow full turning movements into and out of Harry Lorenzo Avenue and Bourn Drive onto Gibson Road,” the report explained. “Crosswalks will be incorporated to provide bike and pedestrians controlled north/south crossing of Gibson Road.”
Gibson Road and SR 113 off-ramp improvements meant to enhance safety and improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity are currently under design and planned for construction in 2024.
“The project modified the northbound 113 offramp onto Gibson Road by removing the uncontrolled freeway ramp merge and installing a new signalized turn lane to eliminate the free right turn,” the report emphasized. “Existing traffic heading eastbound will be directed through a signalized intersection where a new north/south crosswalk will provide controlled crossing for bicycles and pedestrians.”
County Road 25A
Lastly, the report highlighted the planned completion of County Road 25A improvements explaining that when the Spring Lake Capital Improvement Plan was updated in 2009, “the segment from Promenade Drive to Parkland Avenue was removed from the plan in order to lower housing construction costs during the great recession and encourage continued buildout of the Spring Lake Specific Plan.”
When the plan was updated in 2017, the roadway portion of the segment of CR 25A was deferred to ensure sufficient funding in the neighborhood’s capital fund to “construct higher priority infrastructure projects necessary to complete the build-out of the specific plan areas.”
Based on a recent review of fund balances and projected remaining fee revenue from the Spring Lake Infrastructure Fee, staff has determined that there could potentially be sufficient funds available to pay for this project.
Councilwoman Mayra Vega represents the Spring Lake community and said these projects have been long anticipated by her constituents.
“Many of the conversations I’ve had with community members out there are about how completing that 25A project is going to significantly impact for the better the traffic patterns,” she said. “I look forward to supporting this project and I know many of the community members in the neighborhood are going to be very happy to hear once that’s approved.
The council will receive another update on Spring Lake projects during its May 18 meeting.