Tulare County to Begin Construction on Four Miles of Road 80

March 17, 2011

Construction will soon begin on a four mile stretch of Road 80 between Avenue 384 and Avenue 416, Tulare County officials announced. The contract was awarded at the March 15, 2011 Board of Supervisors meeting.

The work will consist of widening the roadway from two lanes to four with turn lanes and a center median. Intersections will be improved and signals will be installed as warranted. Upgrades will also be made to the existing at-grade railroad crossings of Road 80.

"The widening of Road 80 is vital to the flow of people and goods in north Tulare County. Signal installations, especially at the vital intersection with Avenue 400, will greatly improve traffic flow and public safety," said Steve Worthley, Tulare County’s Fourth District Supervisor. "The slow economy has resulted in competitive bids returning a good investment to the citizens of Tulare County," said Worthley.

Emmett’s Excavation, Inc. from Clovis was the lowest bidder in the amount of $14,005,668. The awarded contract is $2,485,931 lower than the engineers estimate. The project is completely funded by federal dollars. Measure R funds will only be used to fund any costs exceeding the federal funds.

Work is expected to begin in late March or early April, 2011 and be completed by March, 2012.

Tulare County Media Contact:

Britt Fussel, RMA Assistant Director

(559) 624-7000, bfussel@co.tulare.ca.us