Somerton wrapping up 10-year street improvement program

SOMERTON — Nearly 70 families will directly benefit from a more than $500,000 paving project scheduled to begin in their neighborhoods before the end of March.

The Somerton City Council recently approved a contract with SWP Contracting and Paving of Glendale, for $522,627 to repave the Parkway subdivision, one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in the city.

The project will be the final phase in a citywide street improvement program that has taken place in phases since 2007.

“It will be the last big project that we do in the old part of city,” Somerton Public Works Director Samuel Palacios said. “All that remain are some segments of streets that we will look at improving.”

The latest project will take place on the Somerton’s southeast corner, where the Glendale firm will repave Musgrove, Hill and Williams avenues, and Eucalyptus Street between Hill and Williams avenues. As part of the project, the company will pour concrete for sidewalks in some locations and will replace some underground sewer liens along Eucalyptus and Musgrove.

If money is left over in the budget, a portion of Fern Street will also be repaved.

Palacios said the work is expected to be completed within 90 days.

The work is being financed partly with $405,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds the city has received, with the balance paid for with bonds issued by the city in 2015. Revenue from a temporary 0.8 percent sales tax will pay off the bonds.

Palacios said the city still has plans to repave some stretches of Jefferson and Fulton streets on the city’s north side.