YC plans millions for roads

Motorists caught in tie-ups on Walton Avenue and Franklin Road on their way to school or shopping may be glad to hear that more lanes are on the way.

The Yuba City streets carry heavy traffic heading north toward retail stores on Colusa Avenue, along with motorists driving kids to school. But some sections have only two lanes.

In spring 2009, Yuba City plans to widen Walton from Anneka Lane to south of Franklin, and Franklin just east of Walton, bringing the street sections to four lanes.

The nearly $2.5 million Walton Avenue and Franklin Road project is part of $10 million in road work the city has budgeted for fiscal year 2008-09 that started Tuesday.

Other major projects planned include the reconstruction of two streets: Garden Highway from Franklin Avenue to Second Street, and Bridge Street from Plumas Street to Shasta Street.

Walton has long been a problem thanks to a merging of four lanes into two lanes near Anneka, and the amount of traffic. It's also a top priority in the city's road work plans for the next year.

"If you look at the amount of traffic congestion in peak hours, it's probably one of the worst spots in Yuba City," said George Musallam, the city's public works director.

Cars sometimes back up on Franklin about 100 yards from Don's Furniture Warehouse to the intersection with Walton during evening rush hour from 4 to 5 p.m.

"I think the street needs to be widened," said the store's co-owner Cindy Applegarth. "I worry what the effects will be during the widening process. But there does need to be major improvements on this street."

Widening of Walton south of Franklin will have to wait until a funding source can be found, said Musallam. That section would cost more than $7 million to bring to four lanes because of the amount of right-of-way to be purchased.

One of the first streets to get work during the next year will be Garden Highway, where a $960,000 project is expected to get under way in September. The street will have to be closed to through traffic between Second Street and Lincoln Road.

The deteriorating two-lane street will be rebuilt with a landscaped median, one paved lane in each direction, paved left turn lanes to provide access, and lanes for parking and bike travel.

The City Council approved advertising for project bids totaling just over $4 million Tuesday. The city will also advertise for work on Garden Highway plus street paving on a number of city streets.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter John Dickey at 749-4711 or jdickey@appealdemocrat.com