Del Mar’s widest road to get a fresh makeover

Jimmy Durante Blvd in Del Mar File photo by Chris Jennewein City leaders declared Monday that Del Mar s widest road is set to receive two inches of fresh blacktop as part of a million paving and striping undertaking scheduled to be completed by next May The Jimmy Durante Boulevard project will replace all pavement between the southern side of the intersection of Via de la Valle and the San Dieguito River Bridge A revised striping plan is designed to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety In particular planned striping with green paint is designed to make drivers and bicyclists more aware of each other as they share the road the city declared in a message A three-month construction phase is expected to be completed by May During construction traffic will be maintained in both directions At least square feet of pavement is scheduled for repair amounting to six football fields representing nearly of the pavement infrastructure that Del Mar maintains Bureaucrats revealed the improvements will fit within the existing curb-to-curb width with existing curbs gutters and sidewalks remaining intact Project improvements will include asphalt replacement structural repairs to the subsurface if needed and reflective traffic striping according to a presentation during a Dec City Council meeting The road segment is about three-quarters of a mile and ranges in width from to feet which includes multiple lanes in each direction dedicated turn lanes a striped median and northbound and southbound bicycle lanes according to an agenda statement from the city The total cost for the million project breaks down as follows design estimated construction cost construction contingency and the remaining budget to be used for construction management inspection materials testing engineering services during construction Funding for the project was allocated from several sources including the General Fund SB- TransNet Measure Q State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and the Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Activity