Fair Oaks Meeting: Construction Will Not Affect July 4 Parade

While the is now slated for the end of July, city staff told merchants Monday morning that the project will be put on hold for the annual Fourth of July Parade. 

Because of the due to city ordinance AB 1881 as well as rainfall last week, the Fair Oaks project will now take three additional weeks to complete, according to Sam Talebian of DMR Team, a consultant working with .

"We are trying to catch up with the time that we are losing to the revisions by doing simultaneous work during daytime and nighttime," Talebian told merchants Monday morning at . 

In order to expedite the project, will be working two shifts over upcoming weeks to complete tasks in a timely manner that weren't originally in the plans, such as cobblestone edging and placement of boulders. As a result, this will gain about 10 days back from the 30 lost. (You can find a timeline of events in the PDF attached to this article.) 

While night shifts last from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Talebian said the nosier work will remain during the daytime. Other projects, such as grinding, will be done during night shifts allowing for lanes to be open during the day. After July 4, the only Fair Oaks construction slated to remain is concrete cross-cutters. The traffic control strategy during this phase of the project is still under negotiation. 

One concern that was continually brought up during the meeting Monday is the decision to use asphalt versus concrete. The city said there are advantages to using asphalt, including it being more than two times less expensive. 

Currently, concrete will be laid on pedestrian areas like crosswalks while asphalt will be paved on the roads.

"It's a lot cheaper and easier—less invasive," said Telebian of asphalt, later adding that its curing time is shorter. "You won't have problems of potholes. It will be good enough for the next ten years." 

Some residents worry that ten years is too soon and think the change will ruin the historic aesthetic of South Pasadena.

"An asphalt-topped road will be more expensive in the long-term and will degrade this old street's historic character," South Pas resident Drew Ready wrote in a letter to the editor Wednesday. 

Mayor Mike Ten argues that asphalt will cut down on noise. 

"Fair Oaks is a major truck corridor. It's going to be a major truck corridor no matter what happens," said Ten. "Vibration from concrete will affect your businesses more than this rubberized asphalt, which will absorb noise."

President Scott Feldmann said he was appreciative of the explanations given at Monday's meeting, but he also expressed frustration with communication efforts on behalf of the city stating that they had previously given him inaccurate information. 

"The presentation of this project was not thorough in telling people what they were getting for their money," said Feldmann, who also mentioned the completed project will result in more parking spaces. 

"It's a learning process, and we all all going through it together," said Telebian. "To a degree, you have to give us some credit that we do not make decisions in a vacuum."

Although Talebian has a vague idea of the overall costs and savings throughout the Fair Oaks project (see attached PDF), he said American Asphalt will have a better idea of exact numbers when it itemizes expenses in July. This is when the city will decide whether or not there is enough money available to repave mismatching sidewalk on the west side of Fair Oaks. 

The next Fair Oaks Construction Corridor community meeting is slated for June 13. The location is TBD.