Politics & Government
A Prize-Winning ... Intersection?
Recent upgrades at Junipero Serra and Rancho Viejo roads have earned the city kudos. But a small "dark cloud" hovers over the project.
And the winner is ... a San Juan Capistrano intersection.
The Southern California chapter of the plans to bestow a transportation award to the city today for recent upgrades to the Rancho Viejo-Junipero Serra roads intersection.
Public works officials traveled to a luncheon in Lakewood to accept the award.
Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Despite all the accolades for the T-shaped intersection, a small "dark cloud" remains, Councilman John Taylor said.
Although the $1.15-million project ultimately came in under budget by $15,000, the construction manager, The Moote Group of Santa Ana, came in $62,621 higher than the $40,000 the city had expected.
Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"It's a great project. Unfortunately, there's a little bit of this dark cloud over it," Taylor said.
Construction concluded on the intersection's makeover in the summer, but the City Council first learned of the cost overruns with the Tuesday meeting agenda. Councilwoman Laura Freese told city staffers they need to relay such news sooner.
Luckily, the cost overruns were offset by under-budget construction and soils expert expenses, according to a staff report.
Among the upgrades at the intersection:
- Two turn lanes in each direction for drivers turning from Rancho Viejo Road onto Junipero Serra Road
- Two lanes for westbound traffic on Junipero Serra leading to the northbound I-5
- A new driveway into the southside park-and-ride lot at Malaspina Road
- Landscaping along the front of the park-and-ride lots
The city also was recognized for two other public works projects at today's luncheon: for the and two new wells to pipe in water to the city's Groundwater Recovery Plant.
