City of Loma Linda Wins Project of the Year

The City of Loma Linda is award-winning in many notable ways, the most recent being in its public works projects. This was exemplified after the city was given the 2015 Small Project of the Year award, presented by the American Public Works Association, Inland Empire Branch, during their Sept. 3 meeting. It was the city's Stewart Street Widening and Pedestrian Bridge project that nabbed recognition from the APWA, an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies and individuals dedicated to providing high quality public works goods and services. Begun in October 2012 and completed in May 2014, the Stewart Street Widening and Pedestrian Bridge project widened Stewart Street from two lanes to four, widened Anderson Street to add turn pockets, built a pedestrian bridge that will allow pedestrians to walk over the roadways and which does not block the view of the Centennial building, and modified an existing traffic signal at Stewart and Anderson streets. "This project is one of a very few in the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties selected for such recognition and the project truly reflects the successful combination of engineering, planning, management, construction and public benefits," stated a news release from the APWA. The project included many particulars that also included water, sewer, gas, electric and communications relocation, drainage system construction, and cast in place a retaining wall with a tie-back retaining wall system and an artistic finish to the walls, according to the city of Loma Linda's application for the award. The project also required the modification of storm drains, irrigation systems, street lighting, pedestrian lighting and bridge approaches. The roadway was depressed to 15 feet in order to avoid the pedestrian bridge requiring stairs, steps or elevators. "Coordination and communication with everyone affected by the project was essential," read a letter to the APWA in the city's application. The project also faced other challenges, explained T. Jarb Thaipejr, City of Loma Linda public works director and city engineer, in a powerpoint presentation on the project, including the volume of pedestrians around the site, which was near Loma Linda University Medical Center and Loma Linda University. Close proximity to other buildings, emergency vehicles in the area, and funding for the project were among the other challenges the city faced. "Timely installation of the new bridge to facilitate pedestrian movement across the university campus was critical," read the city's application letter. "The improvement had to occur while the adjoining buildings for Loma Linda University were still in service. The extremely tight lateral confines due to existing structures next to the right-of-way along with the vertical depth required gave the contractor challenging conditions." The project also hit a bit of a road block when an excavation next to the old medical school laboratory made way for the discovery of a human skull. "Apparently, a hundred years ago, the used cadavers were mass buried," read the application letter. The project was temporarily shut down so that a coroner could determine a cause of death; eventually a LLUMC official was appointed to this task, read the application. Ultimately seven skulls and other bones "were uncovered and respectfully relocated." The accomplishment of the pedestrian bridge "not only enhances safety and convenience, but created a major support form Loma Linda University," read the application letter. "Their cooperation and willingness to sacrifice with temporary inconveniences allowed for a timely completion of this project. Throughout the project timeline, pedestrian, vehicular and business access was maintained." A portion of parking lot near the construction site was negotiated for contractor staging, allowing for reduced traffic, travel times and project footprint, the application stated. "The two year project was completed within the $7 million budget and without injury," the application letter concluded. The goal of these annual awards is to recognize all who have contributed to the success of projects that "preserve, improve and extend our area's public works infrastructure," which is "vital to the continuing improvement of the quality of life and economic strength of our communities," stated the release from the APWA. Project team members included Loma Linda University Senior Vice President of Financial Affairs Rodney Neal, Vice President of Construction Ken Breyer, and Superintendent Brad Johnson and the City of Loma Linda's City Manager T. Jarb Thajpejr, Field Services Representative Eleazar Rubacalva and Project Cost Accountant Lynette Arreola. To provide the honorees with a permanent reminder of this recognition, a plaque commemorating this award was presented to the Loma Linda City Council at the Sept. 8 public meeting.