Ask TBC: When will the Mount Vernon Avenue construction be finished?
| Wednesday, Nov 18 2009 11:32 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, Nov 18 2009 11:37 AM
Q: When will the work on Mount Vernon Avenue be done? It is a pain to get to my house and to work, takes an extra 10 minutes, especially when the light on Columbus is flashing.
- Ricardo Reyes
A: City Construction Superintendent Rick Millwee said: the paving work is scheduled to be done by Monday of next week (weather permitting). Once the paving work is done, the contractor will only be closing traffic lanes between 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. The project is currently scheduled to be complete in mid-December.
Q: Is there any update on plans to build a SuperTarget at the corner of Gosford Road and Panama Lane?
- Travis Anthony
A: Here's what we learned from Bakersfield Planning Director Jim Eggert:
An application was submitted by Castle & Cooke in early 2008 for this corner for consideration of a shopping center of approximately 786,000 square feet. It has been identified that one of the major anchor tenants would be Target, which would encompass approximately 138,000 square feet (about the same size and configuration as River Walk Target).
No other tenants have been identified. This center would generally be a continuation of what is being developed to the north in Gosford Village, though with a different look and configuration so that it has its own unique identity.
An Environmental Impact Report is being prepared for this center. In the summer of 2008, the applicant asked city staff to place processing on hold. We have recently been working with the applicant to re-commence processing and they have begun preparation of the necessary special studies that need to be incorporated into the EIR. Once those special studies are submitted to the city, the EIR can be completed and released for public review (anticipated early 2010).
Q: The corner of Stockdale Highway and Renfro Road often has a strong odor of sewage present, especially in the evening hours. What is the cause, and what is being done to remediate it?
- Trent Combs
A: The answer continues to be what Luis Peralez, street superintendent for the city of Bakersfield, told us when someone asked the same question in September 2007. Here's what we wrote then:
The offensive odor occurs in areas of new development, when there's not enough water in the pipes to move the contents along, Peralez said.
Without enough water flow, bad smells happen. He said the smells don't occur in older areas that are fully built out.
For an update, we turned to Mike Connor, city assistant street superintendent. He told us the smell is more noticeable when the weather cools and sewer gases -- like hot air -- rise. He said the city injects an odor control chemical into the sewer lines but it doesn't completely remove the bad smell.
Connor said lots more development has been planned for the area -- which will eventually help alleviate the smell -- but it's been delayed because of the sour economy.
Q: There is a steady stream of semi-trucks with trailers traveling north and south on Fruitvale Avenue lately. They appear to be lightly loaded on the southern trip and empty going north. The trucks are from a variety of trucking companies. What is the explanation for this recent activity?
- Gerald King
A: Gerald actually got this answered before we did. City officials said the trucks are hauling material to the Mohawk Street extension project. That extension connects Truxtun Avenue and Rosedale Highway, going over the Kern River.
Ask The Californian appears on Mondays and Thursdays. Submit questions to asktbc@bakersfield.com or to The Bakersfield Californian, c/o Christine Bedell, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302.
