Project Update on Franklin Street and Fairfax Avenue

In February 2021, our Smooth Streets construction team encountered widespread soft soil when beginning to improve the road segments on Franklin Street and Fairfax Avenue. The discovery of the soft soil conditions beneath the pavement required us to look carefully at a new design for completing the reconstruction work. This happened as expeditiously as possible whilst utilities services worked to lower their services. We worked collaboratively to ensure residents will receive a quality street that will last a generation. 

On April 19, 2021, San Mateo City Council approved additional project funding to return to work on the road segments. 

Return to Work

Starting April 20, 2021, the reconstruction of the undisturbed portions of both Franklin Street and Fairfax Avenue will be completed using a modified construction method referred to as Full Depth Reclamation (FDR). Portions of roadway that have already been stabilized will be paved along with those segments that have been stabilized using FDR.

The FDR process involves cement treating the existing soils within the roadway section prior to overlaying asphalt, which will stabilize the soft soils and allow paving to continue. The FDR operation can be more disruptive and is typically reserved for use in areas with very soft subgrades. The current soil conditions warrant the switch to the FDR construction method. 

In order to mix the soil and cement, all existing underground utilities must first be lowered to a safe depth below the mixing apparatus. California Water Service Company (CalWater) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) both responded promptly to our request to lower their utilities and have recently completed their work allowing the City to proceed.

 The next sequence of work and approximate duration for the remaining portions of the project are as follows: 

•  Excavating and placing base rock subgrade stabilization (4-5 days); 
• Installing subsurface drains for the previously completed subgrade stabilization (4-5 days);
• Beginning May 5, 2021: Pulverizing of base material, mixing with cement and water, and spreading along the roadway to form the cement treated soil base (4-5 days); 
• The contractor will start the cement treatment process as the final stage of the FDR operations. This involves spreading cement and mixing it with the previously pulverized base material and water to form a solid road base. The spreading and mixing of cement will occur along Franklin Street and Fairfax Avenue over approximately three days with different segments completed each day. (PLEASE NOTE: The beginning of the cement mixing process will be delayed one to several days and will NOT begin on Monday, May 10 as originally communicated. The City will distribute 48-hour notice door hangers to mark the beginning of the cement mixing process);
• Curing of the cement treated base (3 days) (During this period of time vehicles will not be allowed on the roadway, including accessing driveways). Please abide the “No Parking” signs posted by the contractor for on-street parking restrictions;
• Finish grading and asphalt paving work of the total roadway width (2-3 days);
• Asphalt pavement cure time (7 days);
• Utility covers adjustment to grade and pavement striping (2-3 days). 

We are grateful for your patience and recognize the inconvenience of this important infrastructure improvement in your neighborhood. To complete the work and ensure its quality it is extremely important that the street is not used until it has had time to cure/dry properly. To avoid damage to your personal property and the street, DO NOT DRIVE ON A STREET UNTIL ALL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THE STREET IS OPEN FOR USE. We will issue doorhangers to affected residents, update our webpage, and post to NextDoor in advance of the days when no driveway access will be allowed.

If you have any special access needs during road reconstruction work, please contact us at 650-522-7300 or email publicworks@cityofsanmateo.org for accommodations. 

As the entire roadway will be reconstructed, temporary lane and/or complete street closures will be required. In addition, no street parking will be allowed during work hours, and the duration of the cement treated base cure period. Through traffic and driveway access will be maintained when possible, but there will be times when no access is allowed. 

Work Hours

As of April 20, 2021, typical Work hours will be weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., no work will occur on weekends unless warranted by special circumstances. Please note the time, date, and location of the Temporary No Parking on the street and plan to park accordingly. The Temporary No Parking signs will contain the most current parking restriction information. 

HOW WILL THIS STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION AFFECT YOU?

•  There may be periods of time when lane and driveway access could be restricted. If you need to leave during the day or if you return home and the lane is closed, you will need to find parking for your vehicle away from the construction area.
• "No Parking" signs will be posted at least 48 hours in advance of the work. If unexpected delays occur, the new date will be re-posted at least 48 hours in advance.
• The City will coordinate with refuse companies, the post office, and other agencies to minimize any disruption of service during the construction. Your garbage and recycling will be picked up as usual. 
• Please do not put other debris on the street when the construction is scheduled to take place.
• Reduced speed through the construction zone will be enforced for the safety of the public and the City's employees. The reduced speed will also prevent possible windshield damage due to flying rock fragments. Please keep in mind that traffic fines are doubled in construction zones.
• Please keep children away from the street during construction.
• Please do not run water onto the street the night before or during the construction, and for 24 hours after construction.
• Please remove all items that extend beyond the lip of the gutter to prevent impeding the construction work. These may include steel plate ramps that extend into the street from driveways as well as basketball courts in the street.

 PLEASE NOTE: Any vehicle parked within the temporary "No Parking" areas during the times posted will be towed at the owner's expense.  Follow all traffic control signs and DO NOT move any barricades, cones, or delineators in order to go around them. It is ILLEGAL to move traffic control devices and traffic fines will be issued. If you are unsure whether or not you should drive on a street, or do not understand the detour signs, please call us to ask for assistance.

Notifications:

April 20, 2021 - Hand Delivered Notification to residents on Franklin Street and Fairfax Avenue

We have utilized our NextDoor platform to keep the neighborhood updated as it is our best, and fastest, tool to pinpoint messaging to a single neighborhood. Missed any previous NextDoor posts? Find them here: 

• May 7, 2021
• May 4, 2021
• April 20, 2021
• April 9, 2021
• March 31, 2021
• March 11, 2021 – updated March 18, 2021
• March 4, 2021
• Feb. 18, 2021
• Feb. 11, 2021

Program Description

The Smooth Streets Program reconstructs roads that have reached the end of their service life.

This is a special program that addresses streets which can no longer be preserved as part of our regular road maintenance. Approximately 20 miles of streets have been identified for reconstruction based on visual inspection and their Pavement Condition Index.

Since its inception in 2013, the program has restored 12 miles of our City streets. In 2015, local voters approved Measure S, a quarter-cent sales tax extension that supports community-identified priorities like the Smooth Streets Program. 

Program Map

You can click to enlarge this map on any device. The proposed completion years are subject to change.