Solana Beach City Council continues giving feedback on Lomas Santa Fe project

The Solana Beach City Council approved an amendment Oct. 22 to a city contract with Michael Baker International for continued work on the Lomas Santa Fe East Improvement Project.

The Lomas Santa Fe-East Improvement Project, which runs from Santa Helena to Highland Drive, will have two lanes of vehicle travel in both directions. It will also add a multi-use trail with enhancements for pedestrians, buffered bike lanes, ADA-compliant ramps, signal upgrades, crosswalk improvements, trees along the street, and landscaped medians, according to a council agenda report.

“These improvements are intended to enhance mobility and safety along the corridor, particularly for students traveling to Skyline Elementary and Earl Warren Middle School,” according to the report. “The project will also include modifications to lane widths and signal phasing to support better traffic flow and visibility at key intersections, while still maintaining two travel lanes in both directions.”

The amendment, which pays the firm an additional $230,000, is for “completion of the bid documents and design-related construction support services,” according to the agenda.

Based on council feedback during the Oct. 22 meeting, there will be modifications made to the bid package before it is voted on by council members and released. Items under consideration include benches, decorative paving and trash receptacles.

About three years ago, in coordination with U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, the city applied for and later received $7 million in grant funding for construction of the Lomas Santa Fe-East Improvement Project through the National Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, specifically for construction on the east side of Interstate 5, from Santa Helena to Highland Drive. The council also allocated surplus funds to cover costs that have gone up since the end of the design process.

“I think the team is feeling more informed to move into the next phase,” Solana Beach City Manager Alyssa Muto said.