The Sacramento County Department of Transportation is starting a tree transplanting project on Fair Oaks Boulevard between Watt Avenue and Sam Ramon Way/Wilhaggin Drive. The tree transplanting effort is part of the Fair Oaks Boulevard Safety Improvement Project, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors at their May 18 meeting.

Tree transplanting work will begin on Friday, May 21, and must be completed in anticipation of installation of steel backed guardrails. This work will require intermittent closures of one travel lane on Fair Oaks Boulevard. It is anticipated that traffic delays will be kept to a minimum with project work occurring during non-commute hours. The tree transplanting effort will take approximately one week to complete.

Eleven trees will be transplanted as part of project work. Transplanted trees will be approximately 20-feet tall with diameters of 4 to 6-inches in order to provide large size trees for immediate effect in this tree lined corridor, and to allow for clearance of vehicles. In addition six trees need to be removed because they are in conflict with the traffic safety zone for new guardrail installation. The eleven transplanted trees will be strategically located to help offset loss of removed trees.

SACDOT is moving forward with a project to enhance safety on Fair Oaks Boulevard. A Phase 1 project will install steel-backed timber guard rails at various locations along the center median between Watt Avenue and San Ramon Way/Wilhaggin Drive. Project benefits include:

- Enhanced safety for Fair Oaks Boulevard motorists.

- Reduced incidents of run-off-the-road collisions.

- Replacement of aging, diseased and damaged trees.

- It is anticipated that guard rail installation work will start in mid-July and be completed by September 2010. Phase 1 project construction costs are $489,980 and will be covered by Measure A Sales Tax funds.

A proposed Phase 2 project will install steel-backed timber guardrails at locations along the center median between San Ramon Way/Wilhaggin Drive and Eastern Avenue. SACDOT is actively seeking Federal stimulus grant funding (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) for a Phase 2 project for Fair Oaks Boulevard – from San Ramon Way/Wilhaggin Drive to Eastern Avenue. If grant application efforts are successful, design and environmental work will begin as soon as possible after funding approval is received.

Winter weather storms can cause challenges for motorists so Supervisor Susan Peters is urging drivers to report all problems to the Sacramento County Department of Transportation regarding any obstacles or conditions putting travelers at risk on roadways in the unincorporated area portion of Sacramento County that are maintained by SACDOT.

“SACDOT is prepared this winter to provide quick response to roadway maintenance incidents that may result from mild to severe weather conditions, said Peters. “While SACDOT crews provide year round 24/7 response for weather related incidents, Sacramento County can still use the assistance of residents–especially during bad weather conditions–to report problems affecting local roadways.“

The winter storm season usually can impact County roadways with a number of problems like fallen trees or branches, flooded streets, plugged storm drains, inoperative traffic signal lights, down street signs, non-working street lights, etc.

Problems can be reported to SACDOT’s Customer Service Center by either calling 916-875-5171 or faxing 916-875-5773. Online reporting also is available via e-services at sacdot.com.

For the convenience of County residents a special “Winter Road Maintenance” section has been added to the Department of Transportation’s website sacdot.com discussing weather related roadway issues including departmental response procedures for clearing  debris from roadways, dealing with flooded streets, and clarifying responsibility for trees or branches that fall on private property.

“Having residents assist us by reporting problems this winter will help keep our roadways clear, functional and safe which is important to everyone travelling in a storm regardless of their mode of transportation,” added Peters.