Crews began tearing up and rebuilding a dozen San Mateo residential streets Monday, Sept. 14, marking the start of the final phase of the city's Measure S-funded Smooth Streets Program.

Contractor Teichert Construction is performing Full Depth Reclamation on 12 street segments rated in very poor to failed condition, according to the city's Phase 5 FAQ. The process pulverizes existing asphalt and mixes lime and cement powder 15 to 18 inches deep, forming a new stabilized base before a fresh layer of hot mix asphalt goes on top. The new pavement is expected to last 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance.

Echo Avenue and Noe Avenue were first, with work scheduled Sept. 14 through Sept. 22. Iowa Drive and Oregon Avenue follow Sept. 16 through Sept. 24. The remaining streets roll out on a staggered schedule through early October:

  • Tilia Street: Sept. 18–28
  • Pierce Street and Oxford Avenue: Sept. 22–30
  • Juniper Street, 29th Avenue and Terrace Way: Sept. 24–Oct. 2
  • San Benito Street and Rolling Hills Avenue: Sept. 28–Oct. 6

Seven additional streets will get a lighter grind-and-pave treatment starting Sept. 24, with the last work on Highview Drive and Overland Drive scheduled Oct. 7–8. The Public Works Department expects all Phase 5 construction to wrap within roughly three months, weather permitting.

What residents need to know

Roads will be fully closed during work hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. No work is planned on weekends or holidays. During the two-day reclamation operation on each street, no vehicle access is permitted, even overnight. Residents can reach their homes only via sidewalks during that window.

The contractor will post no-parking signs on barricades at least three working days before work begins on each street. The Public Works Department urged residents to watch for those signs and move vehicles to avoid delaying the project.

Trash pickup should not be affected. The contractor is sequencing reclamation work to begin the day after Recology's scheduled garbage collection on each street, according to the FAQ.

The city also warned that lime used on the first day of reclamation is corrosive and an irritant. Residents should keep pets and children off the roadway during that stage. People sensitive to dust should close windows and limit time outdoors. Crews will not perform reclamation work in windy conditions.

Emergency vehicles will have access to every street at all times, regardless of construction activity.

Program background

The Smooth Streets Program has restored roughly 15 miles of San Mateo streets since 2013, according to the city's program page. Phase 5, the final phase, covers 19 street segments total. Measure S, a quarter-cent sales tax approved by nearly 70% of San Mateo voters in November 2015, generates about $7 million a year for city services and infrastructure, according to the city's Measure S page.

The city coordinated with PG&E, California Water Service and other utilities before construction. Lowering shallow water and gas lines alone took more than a year, the Phase 5 FAQ states.

Residents with questions during construction can contact project construction manager Sydney Chow at [email protected] or 650-522-7331. The FAQ is available in English, Spanish and Chinese on the city's website.