Downey will begin to clean up its alleyways, which it made a long-term priority earlier this year. (Photo by Eric Pierce).

DOWNEY – The Downey City Council’s goal to clean up the city’s back streets moved forward Tuesday when they awarded a $374,000 contract to reconstruct a dilapidated quarter-mile stretch of alleyway.

The alley is located between Patton Road and Lakewood Boulevard, just north of Stewart & Gray Road.

Sequel Contractors Inc. of Santa Fe Springs was awarded the contract. The company will remove and then replace the alley’s asphalt pavement and replace cross gutters and curb access ramps to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

During budget negotiations earlier this year, council members made improving Downey alleyways a long-term priority.

“I firmly believe that all thoroughfares, whether for vehicles or pedestrians, should be well-paved, clean, maintained and well-lit,” Councilman Mario Trujillo said in an interview Monday. “I’m told that in the last 30 years, the city has not made any investments in our alleys.

“People use alleys to park, to enter garages, and children use alleys to play. Families use alleys to walk. We’re a city that’s been known to take pride in our streets and our neighborhoods so it’s only logical that we would now pay attention to our alleys.

“I believe this will improve Downey.”

Downey has already begun making efforts to spruce up alleys, said public works director Delfino Consunji, including posting “no parking” signs, filling potholes, and removing illegally dumped garbage.

The city is also working with Southern California Edison to install additional lighting in dark alleys, Consunji said.

The total cost to fix this stretch of alleyway is estimated at $520,000, which includes construction, contingencies, design work, inspections, and testing.

Council members agreed Tuesday to transfer $222,486 in vehicle impact fees to its public works ledger to cover a portion of the contract.

The remaining balance will be financed by Measure R, a half-cent sales tax increase authorized by L.A. County voters in 2008.

Downey begins work on alley improvements