HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-11; Chestnut Avenue Underpass Project Update (District 1); Gomez, PazTo the members of t he:
CITY CO UN CIL
Dat e iliili.±_ CA ✓ CC ✓
CM _L"ACM ~CM (3) ✓
January 11, 2024
Council Me morandum
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2024003
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Via:
Re:
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager~( yiunity Services
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manage GJ"'
Chestnut Avenue Underpass Projec pdate (District 1)
This memorandum provides an update on the Chestnut Avenue Underpass Community
Enhancement Project, which is starting construction next month.
Background
As part of the Build North Coast Corridor (NCC) Program, the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) and the San Diego Association of Governments (SAN DAG) are
completing several community enhancement projects along the Interstate 5 (1 -5) corridor. One
of these, the Chestnut Avenue Underpass Community Enhancement Project, is scheduled to
start construction in February.
In addition to making the underpass more invit ing for all modes of travel, the project includes a
permanent public art component as part of the city's Art in Public Places program.
Discussion
On October 15, 2019, the City Council adopted a resolution selecting the Chestnut Avenue
underpass as the preferred undercrossing location for a Build NCC community enhancement
project. The Build NCC project team had proposed either the Chestnut Avenue underpass or the
underpass at Carlsbad Village Drive. The Carlsbad Village Drive location would have been more
complex to execute due to its location at a freeway on ramp and offramp, the nearby gas
station, t raffic signals at the int ersections and the drainage system.
Enhancements to the Chestnut Avenue/I-5 undercrossing will include:
• Bike lanes and parking separated by a buffer
• Doubling the width of sidewalks
• Moving curbs to provide better pedestrian crossings
• Improved landscaping, with native shrubs, groundcovers and street trees
• Enhanced landscaping facing Holiday Park
• New retaining walls (to make room for the widened sidewalks)
• Additional fencing
Public Works Branch
Transportation Department
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2730 t
Council Memo -Chest nut Avenue Underpass Project Update (District 1)
January 11, 2024
Page 2
• Shielded light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting fixtures
• New lighting under the bridge
• Cobblestone paving
Construction schedule
The following construction schedule has been provided to city staff by Caltrans and SAN DAG:
Restripe and place K-rail
Pour wall
Install sidewalk
Asphalt paving (56 hours closure)
Complete work
North wall
Mid-Feb 2024
May 2024
Aug/Sept 2024
Sept/Oct 2024
South wall
Sept/Oct 2024
Nov/Dec 2024
March/ April 2025
May 2025
May/June 2025
The city's Communication & Engagement Department will work closely with SAN DAG to help
ensure the community is aware of any temporary lane closures and other construction impacts.
Public art
Carlsbad Municipal Code 2.18.110 (Appropriation for arts) requires that a minimum of 1% of
the cost of certain construction projects be dedicated to permanent public art. For the Chestnut
Avenue Community Enhancement Project, the City Council has designated $400,000 from the
General Capital Construction Fund for the permanent public art.
Two artists and one artist team responded to a limited call for artists issued by the city last fall.
The city sought application submissions from artists with experience working on major
transportation infrastructure projects, due to their complexity, engineering requirements and
strict timelines.
In late 2023, staff created a public art advisory subcommittee for this project, based on the Art
in Public Places program. That subcommittee met on January 4, 2024, to interview two artists
and an artist team who responded to the call for artists.
The interviews focused on the artists' qualifications only, not specific ideas or design concepts
for this project. The subcommittee voted unanimously to select an artist team known as
Greenmeme, which is a collaboration between artists Freyja Bardell and Brian Howe. They will
work with the community to develop a vision for the artwork that reflects the history, heritage
and identity of Carlsbad's Barrio and surrounding area.
Next Steps
City staff will work with SAN DAG to keep the community informed about the underpass
construction. City staff will also execute a contract with the artist team selected. Community
engagement for the public art is expected to begin this spring.
Council Memo -Chestnut Avenue Underpass Project Update (District 1)
January 11, 2024
Page 3
Attachment: A. Chestnut Avenue Underpass Community Enhancement Project
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer
Zach Korach, Finance Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director
Gina Herrera, Assistant City Attorney
Attachment A
Chestnut Avenue Underpass Community Enhancement Project
View from Pio Pico Drive
**Final design subject to change.
~ Transportation art site
-The retaining wall exterior surface, cable railing, and the space between the back
of the sidewalk and the wall is available for Transportation Art, subject to the
artist interpretation and approval by Caltrans
.,..-
TO Exltllng M,1 Slaia
-·
10' 11' S'l:2' 12' S' 11' 10' -,----r-,,-(◄--►-... ,--Sidewalk Park and Bike EB Lan~ \'ID 1.Gne Bike Park and Sidewalk Bulfer Lan lane Buffer
.,...-/. _i.-=O -~_e_t Retaining Wall ±7 ~.
Chestnut Ave. Undercrossing Facing West
Typical Cross Section
,o· I
Exbtlng Bridge
Conform toblitlng 1.s:1 Slope
PROflLE VIEW RETAJNll,G WALi. ·eo" ($o<lth Sidt)
CHESTI/UT AVl:NUE STREIIT IMPROVEMElffS -IUITAl!llllG WALL COIICEPTS (50\ITH SIOEJ
PROFILE VIEW RETAINING WALL "!IO" (NoJ h Sid•]
Conceptual Site Plan (South Side}
**Final design subject to change.
CHESTNUT AV!oNI/E STREET IMPROVEMENTS• RETAINING WALL CONCEPTS (NORTH SIDE)
Conceptual Site Plan (North Side)
**Final design subject to change.