County OKs road agreement with RMWD

By Joe Naiman

San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Ramona Municipal Water District for the relocation of waterlines as part of the San Vicente Road improvements.

The Ramona district is responsible for the approximate $2.3 million cost to relocate the waterlines, but it will fund the work during the course of the project rather than with a lump sum in advance of the work, according to a county report.

The project will widen San Vicente Road and realign short horizontal curves from Warnock Drive to Wildcat Canyon Road. The improvements for the 2.2-mile segment will include intermittent turn lanes and bicycle lanes on each side. The estimated cost, including a larger than normal contingency due to the rocky terrain, is $30 million, which covers $21 million for roadway improvements and $9 million for utility relocation including the waterlines. A network of waterlines installed in the road must be removed and relocated to complete the road improvement project.

The agreement allows RMWD to avoid environmental review and contractor mobilization costs for the work. The supervisors’ May 9 action also found that no new circumstances warrant changes from the environmental impact report adopted in January 2011.

The work will be advertised for bid at a later date. The authorization to advertise the contract for bid and award a contract to the lowest responsible bidder is expected to be brought to the county board in spring or summer 2013. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2013 and be completed in summer 2015.