By Arnold Adler
Contributing Writer
DOWNEY — The City Council approved plans Oct. 13 for a $10 million project to complete the upgrade and beautification of Telegraph Road, the city’s northern boundary with Pico Rivera. It would be a joint project with the latter city.
In a report to the council, Public Works Director Delfino R. Consunji, said the project on the south side of Telegraph would extend from Lakewood Boulevard west to the city limits at the Rio Hondo River Channel.
On the north side of Telegraph in Pico Rivera, the project would extend from Passons Boulevard to Pico Rivera’s east limits.
He explained that the project would reconstruct pavement in traffic lanes, upgrade sidewalks, curbs and gutters where needed and erect a landscaped median with irrigation.
Also planned are curb ramps for the handicapped where needed, and upgraded traffic lights at Birchbark and True avenues.
It would be similar to work completed in 2013, to upgrade traffic lanes and install a raised, landscaped median between Lakewood (Rosemead) Boulevard in Pico Rivera, east to Passons.
Construction is expected to start in January and be completed in August, Consunji said.
Noting that Telegraph is a heavily trafficked street from the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway west, Consunji said the street would require rebuilding as opposed to just maintenance.
“Reconstruction of the pavement will raise the condition of the pavement to an acceptable standard and will extend the life of the infrastructure by 20 years,” he said in his report.
Meetings with affected businesses and property owners in both cities were conducted in 2018, he added.
Funding is expected from the Federal Transportation Program, $2,787,000; Senate Bill 1 Funds, $1,000,000; Los Angeles County Proposition C and a Measure M grants, about $3.5 million; and $2.69 million from Pico Rivera.
Arnold Adler is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers Norwalk, Downey, Paramount and Bellflower. He can be reached at arnoldadler123@gmail.com.
