South of Forest Neighborhood Improvements

The South of Forest Neighborhood lies west of Winchester Boulevard between Forest Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard.  The streets in this formerly unincorporated residential area were built to an outdated standard, and over the years had become badly deteriorated.  To avoid substantial road maintenance expenditures, the City of Santa Clara established a plan to reconstruct the curbs, sidewalk and paving of these neighborhood streets in four annual phases.

For Phase 1 in 2009, HMH prepared the construction documents for Cecil Avenue and Dorcich Street.  The design included new monolithic curb, gutter and sidewalk, and a new pavement structural section, constructed by in-place rehabilitation with a cement treated base and a 3-inch asphalt concrete surface. Critical to the design was maintaining the elevations at the back of walk in order to minimize the amount of conform work required on private property.

Phases 2 and 3, consisting of the next six parallel streets, were combined into a single construction package to take opportunity of the good bidding climate.  HMH completed PS&E for this construction package on a fast-track schedule and construction moved quickly to completion in February 2011.

HMH also designed the Phase 4 improvements for the last two streets, Harold Avenue and Brookside Drive.  HMH staff assisted the City with presentations to neighborhood meetings to consider use of Green Street features, like permeable pavers or bio-swales, to satisfy RWQCB permit requirements.  Based upon community participation, the City has decided to maintain a conventional design, and final PS&E were completed for advertising and construction in 2011.

In 2012, the South of Forest project was awarded the APWA Project of the Year in its category.  HMH was personally congratulated by the South of Forest Neighborhood Association in an e-mail expressing that they “love their new streets and sidewalks!”

Services

  • Public Works
  • Stormwater Compliance

Location

Santa Clara, CA

Completion

2009-2012

Key Facts

  • Client: City of Santa Clara
  • Provided new street paving, sidewalks and curbs.
  • Provided Estimating for Construction Costs.
  • Provided Conceptual Designs for Potential Green Street Pilot Project to Comply with the MRP requirements.

Let's Talk About Your Project