Recycled Water – Phase 4

Update – March 28, 2024:

Low Gap Road: The utility portion of this project on Low Gap Road is nearly complete. Still to come — ADA curb ramp work will begin around the end of April in preparation for paving in June (after school gets out for summer break).

Brush Street: Potholing (drilling into the street to locate existing utilities) is nearly complete, and construction on the recycled water line will begin within the next few days. This work will impact traffic on Brush Street. During this phase of the project (anticipated to be complete around April 15^, weather-dependent), there will be one-way westbound controlled traffic on Brush Street during construction days/hours (Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Mazzoni should not be used for thru-traffic. Traffic to/from the fairgrounds should use Mazzoni for southbound EXIT ONLY.

Construction Days/Hours: Monday- Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Access will be maintained for all residents/businesses.

Thank you for your patience.

Update – March 15, 2024:

Good news! We are nearly done with the utility portion of this project on Low Gap Road.
 
What to expect this next week: Crews will conduct water line testing and connections on Low Gap Road and some side streets. There will be short interruptions to water services in the project area. All impacted residents/businesses will be notified in advance of any planned outage.
 
After completing the connections, crews will move to Brush Street to begin potholing for this section of the recycled water line. This portion of the project is anticipated to move quickly and will likely be complete within just a few weeks (weather permitting).
 
Once again, thank you for your continued patience throughout the project.

Update – March 1, 2024:

Despite the ongoing and persistent rain causing numerous construction delays, progress continues on Low Gap Road with recycled water tie-ins, hydrant services, and domestic water services. Significant developments are also underway at the water treatment and wastewater treatment plants. Check out the cool video of the water tank construction taken by City staff.

              PLAY VIDEO

Water Tank Construction Video

• Domestic Water connections are scheduled for mid-March. The connection phase will cause minimal disruptions to water service in the project area (typically no more than 20-40 minutes). All impacted residents will be notified in advance of any planned interruptions.

Traffic mitigation measures are in place, and we are grateful for your continued patience during the project.

Update – January 25, 2024:

• Crews will continue installing 16″ domestic water lines on Low Gap, leading to intermittent street closures and one-way westbound traffic in the immediate construction areas between State Street and Bush Street until mid-March.
• No service interruptions are expected during water line installation. Short (1-2 hour) interruptions may occur in mid-March during the connection phase. Affected residents/businesses will receive advance notice.
• Hydrant and water service work on Despina Drive will occur in the parking lane on the east side of the street and is not expected to impact traffic.
• Traffic mitigation measures are in place, and we appreciate your patience throughout the project.

This update covers January 25 to mid-March. Further updates will be provided when this portion of the project is complete or if there are additional traffic or resident impacts during this period.

Update – January 19, 2024:

Weather continues to impact construction; therefore, construction work won’t likely resume until mid-week next week. Once work resumes, crews will continue working on the recycled water line on Pine Street.

Once the recycled water line from Pine Street to Bush is complete, crews will return to Low Gap to install the 16″ domestic water lines. During that time, there will be traffic impacts in the immediate construction area with intermittent one-way controlled westbound traffic between State Street and Bush Street. This work is anticipated to last through February into March. Additionally, hydrant and water service work will occur on Despina Drive; however, this work will not impact traffic.

During the water line installation, there are no anticipated interruptions to services. There will be a short interruption (1-2 hours) during the connection phase of the project, which is expected in mid-March; impacted residents will be notified in advance.

Flaggers and other traffic mitigation measures are in place where needed. Thank you for your continued patience throughout this project.

Update – January 11, 2024:

Despite some delays related to utilities and weather, construction crews are moving faster than expected along Low Gap Road and Despina Drive.

Currently, crews are on Despina working northbound. This section is expected to be complete by end of day tomorrow (Friday), or Monday, January 15th, weather dependent.

Once Despina is complete, crews will return to finish installing the water lines on Low Gap between State Street and Oak. During this time, Low Gap will be closed to through traffic in the immediate construction area. This work is expected to take about a week.

Flaggers and other traffic mitigation measures are in place where needed. Thank you for your continued patience throughout this project.

Update – January 9, 2024:

Rain is forecast for tomorrow and, if that occurs, work will likely begin on Despina on Thursday.  At this pace, weather permitting, this entire section (Low Gap from Bush and Despina) will be completely done by the end of the day on the 15^th, which is a school holiday.  (Construction crews will take advantage of reduced traffic and work on this holiday.)

Please note that, as soon as construction rounds the corner onto Despina, two-way traffic on Low Gap will be restored.  While work is occurring on Despina, it is anticipated that on-street parking will be impacted, but traffic will be allowed in both directions.

Flaggers and other traffic mitigation measures will be provided as needed.

Please let us know if you have additional questions.  Thank you for your continued patience!

Update – December 20, 2023:

Beginning Friday and Saturday, December 22-23, construction will occur in the Low Gap/Bush Street intersection and progress north on the east side of Bush Street to Arlington Drive and down Pine Street to the northwest corner of Vinewood Park. Additionally, construction will occur on Low Gap Road between Bush Street and Despina Drive.

Please see the information below regarding traffic impacts, road closures, and Saturday work: 

• Beginning Friday, December 22, crews will work in the intersection of Low Gap Road and Bush Street. Construction crews will work Friday and Saturday, take Sunday and Monday, December 24-25 off, and resume work in the intersection on Tuesday, December 26. This work is anticipated to take approximately five days and is weather-dependent. During this portion of the project, the intersection will be closed. However, emergency vehicle access will be maintained at all times!

•  Additionally, construction will occur on the east side of Bush Street from Low Gap to Arlington Drive and down Pine Street to install and connect recycled water to the northwest corner of Vinewood Park.  No street closures are anticipated in this area.
• Immediately following the completion of the intersection, crews will start work on Low Gap Road from Bush Street to Despina Drive. During this portion of the project,  there will be one-way westbound traffic only on Low Gap Road between Bush Street and Despina Drive during construction days/hours  (typically Monday- Friday, 7-5, with possible Saturday work). This work is anticipated to take about three weeks.

Flaggers and other traffic mitigation measures will be provided as needed.

Holiday Schedule: No Construction Work on Monday, December 25^, or Monday, January 1.  

Update – December 15, 2023:

During the school holiday break, beginning December 22^nd, the contractor will attempt to complete as much construction on Low Gap between Bush Street and Despina Drive as possible. Therefore, multiple construction crews will be working in the area, and there will be traffic impacts.

• Beginning Friday, December 22^nd, there will be one-way westbound traffic only on Low Gap between Bush Street and Despina Drive during construction days/hours – Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. as contractors excavate and install recycled water pipe to the high school. (This work is anticipated to take about three weeks.)
• Additionally, construction will occur in the intersection of Bush and Low Gap, and work will progress north on the east side of Bush Street to Arlington Drive and down Pine to install and connect recycled water to the northwest corner of Vinewood Park.  

Flaggers and other traffic mitigation measures will be provided as needed.

Holiday Schedule: No Construction Work on Monday, December 25^th, or Monday, January 1^st.

Thank you for your patience.  Please drive carefully around the construction work and the residential neighborhoods.

Update – December 1, 2023:

Construction of the Recycled Water Project continues to be focused on the section of Low Gap between State and Bush.  As the crews move through the area, sections of the street will be temporarily closed or open to only one-directional traffic.  Detour signs will be in place and residents will be allowed access, but community members are advised to take alternative routes when possible during construction hours (M-F, 7am-6pm).

Work will continue in this section of Low Gap until the school district’s winter break (December 22-January 5), when crews will take advantage of the lighter traffic and focus on the challenging intersection of Low Gap and State. 

Thank you for your patience.  Please drive carefully around the construction work and the residential neighborhoods.

Update – November 17, 2023

Update – November 9, 2023

The expansion of the Recycled Water Project is happening simultaneously in three different locations—the Water Treatment Plant, the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and in the streets in the areas around Brush and Low Gap Road.  The latter is the installation of the distribution system—literally distributing the recycled water to additional facilities, including Vinewood Park, the cemetery, Frank Zeek School, Ukiah High School, Pomolita School, the golf course, Todd Grove Park, Anton Stadium, and more.

None of this water will be used for drinking, and the pipes for this water are completely separate from the existing water and sewer pipes.

How are the streets impacted?

Currently, most of the visible work has been occurring on North Bush Street near the Low Gap intersection and on Low Gap between State and Bush.  Some of the distribution line has been installed on Bush Street near the County of Mendocino offices; the other work has primarily been “potholing.” This is the process of drilling small holes into the street to precisely locate the existing underground utilities.  Potholing will continue intermittently throughout the duration of the project.

Starting on Friday, November 10^th, sections of Low Gap road between State and Bush will be closed.  On this section of the project, the existing sewer lines are also being replaced.  Though only one block will be closed at a time, we recommend taking an alternate route if possible.  Pedestrian access will be maintained, and residents of the closed sections will still be allowed access.  Streets will be reopened in the evenings and on weekends.

Some of this work can continue through rainy weather, but not all of it, so there may be delays associated with next week’s storm forecast.

Looking ahead, work on this section of Low Gap is expected to continue into the beginning of December.  After that, it will continue west on Low Gap to Despina, and then north on Despina.

Where can I find more information?

Additional details regarding the project, including a map of all impacted areas, can be found at www.UkiahRecycledWater.com

We know that this area is heavily impacted with traffic, especially around school drop-off and pick-up times.  We’ll work to minimize construction impacts to the extent of our ability, and are focusing high-impact work to occur during school breaks wherever possible.   Please drive carefully in the construction zones and take alternate routes whenever possible.