Highway 12 construction expected to finish on schedule

The sidewalks along Highway 12 in Boyes Hot Springs are reaching the final stages. Concrete work is mostly done and the last of the new curbs and gutters are being installed.
Block-outs for 55 decorative gas lamp-style light poles have been left in the new sidewalk and the poles are on order and should arrive in the next few weeks. Once they arrive, installation can commence and the project will wrap up on schedule.
“Typically electrical equipment requires a long lead time but as soon as the poles arrive, we’ll get them installed as soon as possible,” said John Collins, resident engineer for the project.
In the meantime crews will begin grinding off the existing asphalt road surface and laying it anew.
“The paving will take about two weeks and we’ll be alternating between grinding pavement at night and laying new surface during day work,” said Collins.  Working in this manner helps alleviate the traffic hold-ups.
The work is being funded by the Sonoma County Redevelopment Agency and isn’t in peril of a work stoppage based on the state’s budget crisis. Collins works for Bali Cooper & Associates and is on contract to the county on an encroachment from Caltrans.  All told, the work will cost $2.4 million when completed.
Work on the project began earlier this year and spans about one mile through the Boyes Springs neighborhood, starting at Donald Street on the southern end and continuing north to Boyes Boulevard.