East Blithedale Rehabilitation Project

Project Overview:

The City of Mill Valley recognizes East Blithedale Avenue as a vital corridor between downtown Mill Valley and Highway 101 as it serves as the northern gateway into the City’s residential, school and business areas.

The East Blithedale Avenue Rehabilitation Project is currently divided into 3 phases and the goal is to rehabilitate aging pavement conditions, install new bike lanes, upgrade existing traffic signals, and improve access. 

The project will interrupt the normal course of business and residential living in the project area. The City is working to address key issues to minimize, where possible, construction-related impacts such as traffic congestion, noise, debris, parking, business operations, deliveries, and accessibility for residents, employees, and customers.

April 2023: Project Update – 

This season's wet weather has presented many challenges throughout Mill Valley and has given our construction team some unexpected complications for our East Blithedale Avenue Project. However, we are pleased to report that, even with 13 atmospheric rivers, unseasonably low temperatures and PG&E crews needing to leave to help with a record number of power outages, the project is still slated to be completed ahead of schedule. 

We appreciate your patience with the work and your continued understanding as we move into the final phase of pavement work. 

Pending weather and conflicts with utilities, most of the work described below is on target to be completed during the school break to minimize impacts to community members. While the team understands that paving operations are a challenge for the entire community, the team has been able to cut the number of working days by more than half to expedite the project and further minimize impacts. 

We urge motorists to avoid East Blithedale Avenue if possible - use Camino Alto and Miller Avenue to avoid the construction area.

If you do drive on East Blithedale, please plan ahead, leave plenty of time to make it to your destination safely, and follow posted speed limits and traffic control signs. Please proceed cautiously as East Blithedale Avenue is an active work zone. 

EAST BLITHEDALE AVENUE PAVING

We have received community feedback regarding the extended work hours. We listened to your concerns and are modifying the work hours. See below for details.

APRIL 20 & 21: FULL CLOSURE 

East Blithedale Avenue between Forrest Street and Grove Street. Road closure barricades will be set at Sunnyside Avenue and Millwood Street. 

Work crews must fully close the roadway to allow access to heavy machinery and dump trucks. 

•  April 20: Work crews will pave the eastbound (outbound) direction. 
  o    7:00 am - Crews arrive to set up traffic control. 
  o    8:15 am – Full closure begins. 
  o    5:00 pm - Roadway is re-opened. 
• April 21: The exact process is planned for the opposite (westbound) direction.

April 20 - 28: ONE LANE CLOSURE WITH TWO-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL 

Argonaut Contractors will grind the roadway. Once the ground surface is exposed, the team will repair structurally failed areas and install and compact a new road base.  Crews will install an asphalt leveling course to bridge minor deterioration so that the roadway can be opened to commuters at the end of the work shift.  

• APRIL 20: East Blithedale Avenue between Sunnyside Avenue and Forrest Avenue, and Grove Street to Warner Creek Bridge (near Thalia Street).
  o    7:00 am - Crews arrive to set up traffic control. 
  o    8:15 am - Lane closure begins following Park School’s first bell. Motorists can expect one-way traffic control.
  o    5:00 pm - Roadway is re-opened. 
• APRIL 24 – 26: East Blithedale Avenue between Sunnyside Avenue and Forrest Avenue, and Grove Street to Warner Creek Bridge (near Thalia Street) and the eastbound lane adjacent to Park School between East Drive and Elm Avenue (west).
  • 7:00 am - Crews arrive to set up traffic control. 
  • 8:15 am –Lane closure begins. Motorists can expect one-way traffic control.
  • 5:00 pm - Roadway is re-opened. 
• APRIL 27  – 28: East Blithedale Avenue between Sunnyside Avenue and Warner Creek Bridge (near Thalia Street). Argonaut Contractor will place the asphalt overlay.
  • 7:00 am - Crews arrive to set up traffic control. 
  • 8:15 am –Lane closure begins. Motorists can expect one-way traffic control.
  • 5:00 pm - Roadway is re-opened. 

DETOUR: 

During the closure, westbound motorists heading into town may either turn right at Carmelita Avenue and turn left at Sunnyside Avenue or proceed to Millwood Street to access Miller Avenue.  Project managers always encourage motorists to use Camino Alto and Miller Avenue to avoid the construction area. 

What Is Happening This Upcoming Week: April 24th 

• PG&E Natural Gas Relocation Project – Elm Avenue (near Park School) to Locust Avenue: PG&E will return to work on their natural gas main relocation project. There will be one-way traffic control.

Thank You for Your Patience

City and Construction Management staff continue to mitigate construction impacts and collaborate with the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce to coordinate and notify local businesses of the planned work. The project team is available to answer questions and review concerns. The City of Mill Valley would like to send out a special thank you to the Mill Valley community for your patience during construction.

Project Map:

Some key design features include:

• Pavement rehabilitation 
• Widening sidewalks at three utility pole locations
• Installing approximately 43 new ADA compliant curb ramps
• Widening the sidewalk in front of Boyle Park
• Installing Class III bike lane street markings from Sunnyside Avenue to Sycamore Avenue
• New bike route signing and striping improvements at the Millwood Avenue and Sycamore Avenue intersections
• Extending curbs ramps (bulb-outs) at Sunnyside Avenue, Mountain View Avenue, Dell Street, Thalia Street, East Drive, and Mesa Avenue.
• Installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons at six uncontrolled crosswalks
• Sewer repair and lateral replacement

Timeline:

Phase I construction: Complete! 
Phase II & III construction: April 2022 - October 2023

Contact Us:

Direct Project Contact Information 24/7: (628) 238-0221
eastblithedaleave@gmail.com
Stay Up to Date on the DPW Twitter Site

Mike Cooper, Project Manager
mcooper@cityofmillvalley.org

Click here to sign up for project updates and stay up to date with construction alerts. 

The April 21st, 2022 Virtual Community Meeting Recording is available here.