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City pushing to open Meridian this week
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: May 07, 2015

Meridian is expected to reopen to through traffic this week as the $6.5 million road reconstruction project in Valley Center entered its eighth week with promises of big changes ahead in the next several days.

The city is "pushing extremely hard" for the contractor to get Meridian open by May 8, city engineer Josh Golka said. The new road surface has been poured, and crews are waiting for the concrete to cure before vehicles can drive on it.

It's unclear how much this week's rainfall will hurt the process. The Main and Meridian intersection has been closed since March 23.

Even if Meridian opens this week, it will be at least another week before the intersection opens entirely. Main Street at Meridian will likely be closed through May 18.

Meanwhile, officials are trying to decide how to temporarily control the Main and Meridian intersection when it does fully reopen, since the stop light system has been removed. Options include a four-way stop or a two-way stop with stop signs on Main. Officials also are considering eliminating left-hand turns at the intersection.

The new lights are expected to be installed in late June or early July.

Some Valley Center City Council members supported a four-way stop, but were opposed to restricting left turns. Others were adamantly opposed to a four-way stop, saying it would tie up traffic and further frustrate motorists.

When the west half of Meridian opens, work will shift to the east half of the road.

Bill Arick, owner of Arick-Hughes and the Hometown Plaza shopping center on South Meridian, praised the city for being responsive to the concerns of business owners and motorists. He said the city did a good job filling potholes around the detour areas.

"I have nothing to raise hell about tonight," Arick said, adding that city officials should communicate plans with the businesses on the east side of Meridian as work shifts to that side.

The city also will decide in the coming days whether to complete a quick project to mill and overlay portions of Main Street east of Meridian, using the opportunity with limited traffic, once Meridian opens to north-south motorists.

Newly elected Mayor Laurie Dove said the city will begin hosting community meetings at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at City Hall to answer questions and address concerns about the Meridian and Ford reconstruction project. The first one will be May 19.

Following is the city's weekly update of the project:

Current status of closures

•Work continues on Meridian north of railroad to Ramsey, west half of Meridian from Ramsey to the north, and the intersection of Main and Meridian.

•The intersection of Main and Meridian is closed north of City Hall, east of Park Ave, south of First Street, and west of Abilene.

•Meridian is also closed north of the railroad and south of Ramsey.

•The east half of Meridian remains open for access to the businesses in the area. Traffic may access this area from Ramsey or local streets east of Meridian.

•Detour signage is installed to guide traffic throughout the area during period of closures. The best routes to navigate around the construction are Seneca for traffic east of the project, and Ash north of Main or Sheridan south of Main for traffic west of the project.

Current status of construction

•Temporary rock drives into Hometown Plaza and USD 262 District Office building to be removed and replaced with concrete. Access to Hometown Plaza USD 262 District Office now available on new concrete.  

•Rock base for pavement construction in intersection nearing completion. Curb and Gutter construction complete followed by concrete pavement for sidewalks and mainline.

•Utility adjustments and removal of abandoned utilities are ongoing in this area for underground and aboveground utilities.

•Pond grading ongoing south of Ford Street working from the south end of the detention pond towards the north.

•Concrete floor poured for pump station. Wall construction to follow.  

Next steps of construction (one-three weeks out)

•Demolition work to begin on east half of Meridian and Ramsey upon shifting traffic to newly constructed west half of Meridian concrete. Work will not begin until Main and Meridian intersection is open in all directions. Access to businesses/properties along east half of Meridian and Ramsey to be maintained at all times.





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