The first new sidewalks are already open on a major road in Middlefield Road redevelopment through North Fair Oaks.
Open sidewalks and the installation of new street lighting poles mark a milestone in a project to create a safer street and bring neighbors and visitors to enjoy this commercial area.
"With the new sidewalks open, this is the first opportunity for everyone to get a sense of what the finished project will look like," said San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum, whose District 4 includes North Fair Oaks. "Now we've crossed over from concept to reality."
Middlefield Road is a major arterial on the peninsula and begins in downtown Redwood City at its northern end. It passes through the unincorporated area of North Fair Oaks on its way through Atherton and Menlo Park and into Santa Clara County.
The reconstruction through North Fair Oaks is being led by the San Mateo County Department of Public Works. The $25 million project calls for reconfiguring Middlefield between Pacific and Fifth avenues from four to three lanes: one travel lane in each direction and a center left turn lane.
Additional work includes bike lanes, wider sidewalks, parallel parking, street elements recommended by the North Fair Oaks Community Council such as benches, trees and landscaping, streetlights, trash receptacles, street art and public spaces.
In addition, there will be integration of "smart" technology in features such as connected street lighting, digital signage, traffic monitoring and pedestrian analytics
"It will look beautiful," said Maria Bucio, a longtime employee at Muebleria Uruapan on Middlefield Road.
Bucio said the furniture store, with items ranging from side tables to fine dining rooms, mattresses and more, faces intense pressure from online and discount retailers. They compete with flexible hours and customer service, he said, and now the newly redesigned Middlefield Road will create a more welcoming environment for shoppers and encourage businesses to invest in new signage and other improvements.
Businesses remain open during business hours, while, to keep shoppers and workers safe, pedestrian areas are well marked and separated by barriers from active construction.
Most of the work is expected to be completed by December 2022. The joint utility poles will be removed after all utilities, such as Pacific Gas and Electric - PG&E, Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and Open 5G, have relocated their overhead wires and installed and energized their subway lines.
It is anticipated that this phase will be completed after the construction project.
Funding for the project comes from the County's half-cent Measure K sales tax - $12.5 million, utilities - $8.3 million and other sources.
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