East Blithedale Construction to Start on Monday

Carmageddon begins Monday morning as construction workers start the summer-long sewer repairs and paving project along East Blithedale, one of the city’s two main arteries.

The work will occur Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is scheduled to last until August 23. It will start at Camino Alto, and they’ll work their way toward Elm/Alto Vista avenues, focusing on 150-to-300-foot stretches at a time, said Severin Ott, resident engineer at Bellecci and Associates.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in those areas, and residents along the street will have limited access to their homes at points throughout the project. Ott said he’s not sure how quickly they’ll be able to move along the street, but should have a better idea one the work is underway.

But the consistent message is to steer clear of the construction. 

“Avoid it unless you live in the area,” Ott said. “If you use East Blithedale, give yourself extra time.”

Assistant to the City Manager Linn Walsh said Miller Avenue and Camino Alto should be used as alternative routes. 

“Also, please be courteous to your neighbors and do not cut through the residential side streets during the construction period,” Walsh said.

In terms of properties that will be restricted, those residents will a receive a notice 72 hours before workers get to their house, and again 24 hours in advance with more specific time frames of when they’ll be in the area. It may be a matter of parking your car on a side street instead of in the driveway for the night, Ott said.

“That’s one of the suggestions we have,” he said. Restrictions shouldn’t last more than 24 hours. .

Walsh also wants to reminder residents to help spread the word to people who may be coming into town via East Blithedale. She’s encouraging those along the stretch to reach out to visitors, housekeepers, babysitters, gardeners, lawn or pool service providers, home health care services, delivery services, or anybody who may have a reason to use the road.

The first phase of the project involves replacing the sewer lines, manholes and other features of the sewer, and should take about six weeks and cost an estimated $700,000.

The second phase, which will take about three weeks, involves a two-part surface treatment to the road for about $50,000. In the first step workers will fill in the potholes and cracks and then apply a seal. In the second step, they’ll microsurface the street using a high-quality aggregate that’s designed to extend the life of the pavement.

Ott said they’ll go down the whole street doing the sewer repairs, then start back up at Camino Alto and work their way down again for the paving.

The project itself is meant as a temporary fix prior a major overhaul of East Blithedale scheduled to start in 2018 – once the $20 million Miller Avenue Streetscape Plan is complete. 

The overall cost of the interim repairs is $750,000, plus a 20 percent contingency that brings the total to $900,000. It will be paid for through the city’s Municipal Services Tax, which provides $1.2 million a year for road rehabilitations.

For more information, follow the Mill Valley Police Department’s Twitter account @MillValleyPD for updates, sign up for email alerts through the city’s website (click road closures), or contact the East Blithedale Project Hotline at 590-0117 or email publicworks@cityofmillvalley.org.