East Merced sidewalks to be upgraded

Merced will do extensive work on Carol Avenue to upgrade sidewalks in an east Merced neighborhood, after an approval from Merced City Council.

The council unanimously approved a $320,400 contract to Modesto-based George Reed Construction Inc. for work on Carol between Highway 140 and Motel Drive.

Merced’s policy is to award contracts to the lowest bidder, and the sidewalk project drew seven bids. Two contractors based in Merced submitted bids, but each was more than $35,000 higher than the winning bid.

The work consists of installing about 12,240 feet of sidewalk, 290 feet of curb and gutter, 230 square feet of asphalt, 49 driveway ramps and four Americans with Disabilities Act ramps. Crews will also add 23 feet of storm drain pipe, one manhole and a water basin.

To replace all of that sidewalk and the water drainage system, crews will do some demolition and removal before filling in the missing gaps in the pathway.

In September, Merced City Council directed California Department of Transportation air quality money to the sidewalk project. It is distributed every year after a call for projects from Merced County Association of Governments.

Creating sidewalks is considered a way to encourage people to walk, and cut back on carbon emissions from cars. Alexander and Oleander avenues, as well as Buena Vista Drive, are also expected to see improvements, staff has said.

In May, the city moved forward on connecting unfinished sidewalks in north Merced neighborhoods where UC Merced students often tread. The city paid for the design of infill sidewalks projects along El Redondo Drive, Compass Pointe Avenue, Collins Drive and R Street, according to city records.

According to an annual survey of the student, staff and faculty population, about 11 percent walk, ride a bike or use methods of travel other than a car or bus to get to UC Merced. About 35 percent use CatTracks buses to get around town.

Merced also has plans to use air-quality funds for bicycle-related projects, such as bike racks, bike shelters, miles of bike lanes and a path along Black Rascal Creek.

This story was originally published December 7, 2014 at 5:36 PM with the headline "East Merced sidewalks to be upgraded."