DOWNEY - Construction on Downey Avenue, from 5th Street to Gallatin Road, is expected to be complete by the end of March, city officials said this week.Dial Construction, subcontractor to the city's contractor on the project, Silvia Construction, is nearing completion of upgrades to potable water facilities along the corridor. Work is almost complete on concrete improvements, with the exception of new sidewalk along the west side of Downey Avenue between Dacosta Street and Gallatin Road. Roadway paving was scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 28. "It is anticipated that the project will be substantially complete by the end of March," officials said. Construction on Florence Avenue, meanwhile, also continues as crews install potable water improvements, install new fire hydrants and replace existing water meter services. The city's contractor, Sully-Miller Contracting Company, has already completed the installation of a new 12-inch recycled water mainline. Work was scheduled to begin this week on the installation of new landscaped median islands and parkways, new street and pedestrian lights, and pavement rehabilitation work. Southern California Edison, Verizon, Time Warner Cable and NextG Networkers are also installing their cables and utilities underground. When that is complete, overhead facilities and power poles will be removed, officials said. The entire project is scheduled to be "substantially completed" by late June or early July, council members said Tuesday. -City Council Roundup by Eric Pierce, city editor

********** Published: March 10, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 47