Politics & Government

Normal Avenue Will Have Abnormal Traffic Flow, Parking for Some Months

City is beginning four-phase project to underground power, phone and other utility lines.

The city is apologizing in advance to residents of Normal Avenue between Lowell Street and Windsor Avenue as work begins on moving overhead utilities underground, which may cause traffic and parking headaches.

“During the construction, there will be some restrictions to traffic flow, parking and access within the construction limits,” the city says of the stretch east of Helix Charter High School.

“However, access to driveways will be maintained.  The contractor is required to post signs, notify residents of the construction activities, and keep any disruptions to a minimum.”

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A four-phase project will relocate SDG&E, Cox and AT&T lines into underground conduits, repave the street, remove existing utility poles and install new streetlights, the city says.

“As part of the city’s underground utility program, the City Council designated this portion of Normal Avenue for undergrounding in 2007,” officials said.

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 “The first phase of this project will install conduit for electrical and communications cables and repave Normal Avenue.  Subsequent phases will install cables in the new conduit; remove existing utility poles, and install new streetlights.”

T.C. Construction has a contract to complete the first phase, with construction starting this month.

Work is expected to be complete by spring 2012.

The second and third phases of the project—one of 10 set for La Mesa neighborhoods—will install the cables and remove existing poles. This will be completed separately by SDG&E following phase one.

Phases two and three are estimated to last about a year. The fourth phase to install new streetlights is a separate contract through the city of La Mesa, officials said.

“This will occur once SDG&E has completed the removal of all overhead lines and poles,” the city said. “Funding for this project is provided by SDG&E Rule 20A, TransNet, and Prop 42 funds.”

Officials said: “We apologize for any inconvenience during this project, and hope that everyone understands that this construction will benefit all surrounding residents.”

In August 2007, the City Council set in motion a series of undergrounding projects. Besides Normal Avenue, they were to include:

  • Orien Avenue from 7447 Orien Avenue to 7485 Orien Avenue
  • Lowell Street 
from University Avenue to Orien Avenue
  • Parks Avenue 
from University Avenue to Normal Avenue
  • Lemon Avenue 
from Grant Street to Bancroft Drive
  • Dallas Street 
from Lake Murray Boulevard to Fletcher Parkway Drive
  • 70th Street 
from University Avenue to Colony Road/city limits
  • Massachusetts Avenue from University Avenue to Waite Drive
  • Waite Drive from Murray Hill Road to 69th Street/city limits
  • Lake Murray Boulevard 
from Aztec Drive to Dallas Street/city limits

In July 2010, the city celebrated completion of a two-year effort to underground 5,000 feet of electric, phone and cable TV lines and place 14 street lights along Parkway Drive and Orien Avenue.

Mayor Art Madrid said at the time: “We have been undergrounding utilities in La Mesa since 1968. Placing utilities underground and adding more lights are part of our continuing effort to make La Mesa one of the most livable cities in San Diego County.”

For more information on the Normal Avenue project, contact Dirk Epperson at 619-667-1152.


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