Late-night jackhammering and rumbling of diesel engines, decimation of mature oak trees, an even more sluggish daytime commute—these are some of the impacts voiced by local residents about heavy-duty road construction projects underway throughout Morgan Hill.
These ongoing efforts include the “South Monterey Road Repaving project” from the southern edge of downtown all the way to West Middle Avenue (about 2.5 miles); installation of a new traffic signal and reconfiguration of the intersection at Monterey and Old Monterey roads north of town; reconstruction of San Pedro Avenue between Monterey Road and Church Street; and the DeWitt Avenue “S-Curve Realignment Project.”
Completion of the more than 15 infrastructure and private development projects in the city is expected to contribute to smoother vehicle rides, safer neighborhoods and better overall traffic flow, according to city staff.
Some of the projects are being completed by contractors associated with private residential developments, such as the Monterey/Old Monterey intersection and San Pedro Avenue. Others, such as the Monterey Road repaving project, have long been on the city’s list of needed public works upgrades.
The city typically tries to coordinate road construction projects “to minimize the impact to the greatest number of residents, businesses and visitors,” said Morgan Hill Communications Manager Maureen Tobin.
Sometimes, however, that’s not possible, and crews are scrambling to complete the current roadwork before the winter rains can delay them even more, she said.
“All of these roadway improvements will increase motorist safety and decrease wear and tear on motorist vehicles,” Tobin added. “Each of these roadways were in poor condition, so the improvements should be noticed by all.” Furthermore, the upgraded roadways will not require as much ongoing maintenance as the previous driving surfaces, Tobin said.
Some residents’ patience is being tested as the multitude of projects wreaks havoc on morning and afternoon commutes, and even short trips across town. In the case of the Monterey/Old Monterey intersection, longtime Morgan Hill resident Richard Vanella thinks the new configuration will only make matters worse.
For months, Vanella’s complaints have fallen on deaf ears at city hall and among county and state transportation officials he has contacted, he told the Times.
For starters, the new intersection is poorly designed, Vanella contends, as it moves the traffic signal only about 75 feet south to make way for a portion of the new 76-unit Solera Ranch subdivision, under construction by City Ventures. Vanella thinks the new traffic signal should have been aligned another 200 feet south on Monterey Road, with Old Monterey routed along the front of still-vacant properties up to a stand of tall trees.
Thus, the new intersection will do nothing to alleviate traffic through the Monterey Road corridor, with dozens of other new homes under construction on other properties in north Morgan Hill, Vanella said.
“The new intersection creates a danger, since drivers coming down Old Monterey can’t see the new street until they’re about to cross it, and drivers turning onto Old Monterey from the new street can’t see far enough up the street to make a right turn, then cross to the left turn lanes safely,” Vanella wrote in an Aug. 11 email to CalTrans.
Furthermore, Vanella complains the city allowed the developer to remove scores of vibrant, mature live oak trees—including a landmark grove that abutted the edge of the old intersection.
“The important thing about live oak trees is they don’t lose their leaves, cleaning the air year-round,” Vanella said. “We’re increasing global warming (by removing the mature trees).”
And Vanella can’t fathom why the grove on the edge of the old intersection was even removed, other than to make way for more new homes.
The developer has included replanting of new young trees in the site plans, according to city planning documents.
Old Monterey Road is closed from Monterey to Llagas at least until the end of this week, as the developer completes the traffic signal, according to the city’s website. Until then, traffic is rerouted to Wright and Hale avenues.
The construction has generated a wealth of comments on social media from anxious commuters upset that the work is snarling traffic.
Monterey Road repaving almost done
The Morgan Hill Police Department has received numerous calls late at night in recent weeks complaining about loud construction noises on Monterey Road south of town.
This work is associated with the repaving of the 2.5-mile stretch of one of the city’s busiest roads. Contractors have mostly completed the heavy construction by working in the late night and early morning hours.
Most of the intensive repaving is done, with restriping and installing new traffic signal loops scheduled for the coming week, according to the city’s website.
All work on that project is expected to be complete by Oct. 26.
The city hired contractor Granite Construction to complete the repaving, at a cost of about $2.5 million, according to Morgan Hill Deputy Director of Engineering Scott Creer.
Other projects
One block of San Pedro Avenue—from Church Street to Monterey Road—has been closed for extensive road improvements since early this summer. Tobin said the developer expects to finish this project the week of Oct. 16.
The developer of The Commons subdivision on the corner of Church and San Pedro is performing this work.
In the downtown, Frank Leal, developer of the Granada Hotel on Monterey Road, and his crews have been busy this week installing new storm drain infrastructure on Second Street. This ongoing project has resulted in closures of East Second Street.
And on the west side of Morgan Hill, in Santa Clara County’s jurisdiction, a key section of DeWitt Avenue remains closed for the realignment of a dangerous “S-curve.” This stretch of roadway, from Origilia Lane to Spring Avenue, will remain closed until Thanksgiving, according to the city website.
Other road and construction projects throughout town include three new downtown parks, Hale Avenue extension line planning, four residential/commercial projects downtown, new signal at Fourth Street and Monterey Road, sidewalk improvements at Third Street and Monterey Road and others which are listed on the city’s website, morganhill.ca.gov.
