As Healdsburg continues to emerge from COVID-19 restrictions, Healdsburg Avenue outside the Mill District neighborhood is returning to normal as well—a sign that our work on the main artery through town is coming to an end.
Earlier this month crews repaved entire portions of the street. According to Senior Construction Manager Gregg Jennings, only one trench remains—the one for dry utilities like power, gas, and cable.
“We’re so ready to wrap up that the cones will come out of there shortly,” he said. Jennings noted that crews soon will put down some temporary striping to recreate a northbound lane, a southbound lane, and a center turn lane. He added that most of the curb work is complete, giving passersby a good idea of where sidewalks and roadways ultimately will go.
Jennings said he expects the sidewalk on the east side of Healdsburg Avenue to be completed from the roundabout to McDonald’s at some point before the end of the summer.
Construction crews are making progress inside the Mill District site, too.
Earlier this month they put down the bottom part of the road base and continued work on building curbs and gutters. From there, crews will begin prepping sidewalks for the Silva Cells—those special floating tiles that allow for tree growth and stormwater management.
“In order to get the Silva Cells in, you have to excavate, put down rock, put down cells, put down more rock, toss dirt back in, and other steps,” said Jennings. “It’s a long process and you can’t rush it.”
On the horizon: More work at The Exchange, the “community housing” part of the Mill District neighborhood. Crews on that job have steel being delivered later this month and will begin pouring concrete for a foundation in the next few weeks. Jennings said he expected that part of the project to go vertical sometime after July 4.
Later in the year, crews will start on the park, which will sit in front of the redwood trees along Healdsburg Avenue. Jennings said development of that area will coincide with a kickoff on the residents that will eventually sit just beyond the trees.
