San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
R.B. STREETS ARE GETTING REPAIRED 15 YEARS AFTER WILDFIRE DAMAGE
Residents in the northern portion of Rancho Bernardo’s Westwood neighborhood are seeing repair work on about 2.3 miles of their streets — after a wait of 15 years.
Preliminary work began in early December. In recent days crews have been cutting out portions of the streets with significant potholes and other structural issues in preparation for an overlay installation — where a few inches of asphalt are removed and replaced following subgrade repairs.
Signs throughout the neighborhood identify the project as the Witch Creek Fire Street Improvements.
It includes all of Azucar Way, Aguamiel Road, Cabela Drive and Nevoso Way. It also includes the culs-de-sac adjacent to Cabela Drive — Aliento Court, Escoba Place, Danza Circle, Palito Court Sedero Court, Grillo Court and Alcalde Court.
According to the city’s website, the project will also remove and replace existing sidewalks with Americans with Disabilities-compliant sidewalks, install and replace curb ramps with Ada-compliant ramps, remove and replace curbs and gutters, remove and replace existing damaged cross gutters and restripe roadways.
The schedule calls for the project to conclude in late June.
The estimated cost for the fullfunded project is nearly $8.7 million, including almost $4 million for the construction contract, which was awarded to Ramona Paving Inc. Planning and design work accounts for some of the other costs.
At least $2.5 million of the project’s funding came from the state, announced by state Sen. Toni Atkins in October 2021 on the Witch Creek fire’s 14th anniversary.
The Rancho Bernardo News Journal, a publication of the U-T Community Press, first reported on the poor condition of Azucar Way, and efforts residents had been making for years to get city officials to keep a promise they made after the 2007 wildfire to repair the street.
Residents understood work would begin after construction traffic for homes damaged or destroyed in the blaze concluded. The heat from the fire damaged the streets in Westwood, but additional damage occurred with the use of heavy construction vehicles.
In July 2021, Karen Meyer contacted the Rancho Bernardo News Journal, saying she hoped that media coverage would help get the city of San Diego to repair their badly damaged streets. Repeated letters from residents got them nowhere, Meyer said. At times Azucar and adjacent streets were slated for repair funding, only to see the project dropped.
Some of the potholes and deep cracks were so big that residents had tripped and been injured.
Within days of the newspaper article, a city crew did some repairs around manholes in the street and city officials promised to get the project fully funded.
Ironically, the most vocal residents who pushed to see the work will not enjoy the fruits of their efforts.
Meyer said Tuesday afternoon that she and her husband, Dave, who were interviewed for the story, moved to Washington state last April. In addition, Elaine Davis, the Azucar Way resident who started the repair campaign and was also interviewed, died in late 2022.
“A lot of residents should be thankful to her for starting this years ago, writing to everybody,” Meyer said.
When Davis could no longer continue the effort, Meyer took up the task that she referred to as a part-time job.
“I just ran with it, but (Elaine) had a lot to do with it,” she said.
“She wanted to see the improvements. I hope she is looking down when it is finished.”
Meyer said she heard from some of her former neighbors that the work was finally starting. She also appreciates that the signage refers to it as Witch Creek Fire Street Improvements, she said.
“I am so grateful to the city of San Diego, to all who made it happen,” Meyer said, adding she and her husband are looking forward to seeing photos once the street repairs are finished and plan to visit in the future.
She said they had to disclose the status of the road repair situation when they sold their house, and many potential buyers asked about the condition of Azucar Way. Were it not for the high prices homes were going for at the time they sold, the street’s condition could have affected their price, she said.
At the time she contacted the Rancho Bernardo News Journal in July 2021, Meyer said she knew her family planned to move, but that did not stop her from continuing her advocacy work.
“It was my farewell to my buddies,” she said. “I’m really glad and happy it is happening because it helps the appearance of the street and property values.”