The State Street Rehabilitation Project was awarded to George Reed, Inc, for almost $7 million to improve streets with an expected completion date in spring 2025. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - State Street is getting a multi-million-dollar makeover.

“Tonight is a very special night to see this before us for approval on consent since I know that this can be a standalone item in and of itself with a presentation on the regular agenda,” Councilwoman Quirina Orozco said on Aug. 21 of the roadway she has lived on for nearly a decade.

One of the oldest city communities started in the early 1950s, the State Streets neighborhood is north of the Deep-Water Channel, with Jefferson Boulevard to the east, Park Boulevard to the west, Stone Boulevard to the south and 15th Street to the north.

The item approved, among other agenda matters, totals $6,719,552, awarded to George Reed, Inc., compared to the city engineer's estimate of $6,521,630, 3% less than the lowest bid.

Overhead powerlines are in the single-family residential region, surrounded by mature trees and street parking. 

“Trees wreak havoc on the sidewalks and pavement as they root,” Orozco said, adding the “immense need” for immediate rehab.

The State Streets Infrastructure Projects include sewer and water lines and pavement rehab in the neighborhood. The first phase of the project included reconstructing public underground utilities in 2021.

The project staff report states the “rehabilitation of the pavement is the final phase of work within the neighborhood and can now proceed as the underlying water and sewer lines have been brought up to good condition.”

Councilwoman Verna Sulpizio-Hull, who oversees State Street, questioned assistant engineer Bridget McGinnis about the estimated spring 2025 completion. 

“The only anticipated delay at the moment would be weather and we have no control over that,” McGinnis said. “When you're doing roads, you need certain temperatures.”

The project staff report notes project materials, including work including “roadway reconstruction with hot mix asphalt or a preventative maintenance slurry seal application on selected roads to extend their remaining life until a more extensive rehabilitation can occur.”

Other improvements include the construction of accessible curb ramps and the replacement of some of the curbs and gutters within the neighborhood.

“Quite frankly, since 2016, I have been looking forward to receiving this item,” Orozco said of the debilitated sidewalks, which cause obstacles to walk on. “There are going to be a lot of happy people on State Street who have been looking forward to this day.”

Like Orozco, Sulpizio-Hull said she has received many constituent concerns. Keeping residents in mind, Sulpizio-Hull noted that the city website page dedicated to State Street keeps residents “fairly” up to date.

“We can keep the website up to date; I can manage that myself,” McGinnis said. “If the schedule changes, it will be posted.”

If it “drastically” alters, McGinnis said the city might send letters to State Street residents but day-to-day updates are best found on the website. Sulpizio-Hull wanted to assure the residents that they could attend the groundbreaking.

Vice-Mayor Dawnte Early recalled walking the streets with Sulpizio-Hull and said, “It is really good to see” the project moving forward.