SALINAS >> A project to transform a heavily traversed section of Boronda Road in north Salinas, converting it from a two-lane to a four-lane roadway with four multi-lane roundabouts, began work this week.

Work on phase one of the Boronda Road Congestion Relief Project, with estimated construction costs for the first phase totaling nearly $21 million, is starting with preparation of the construction area.

Phase one will see the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Boronda Road and McKinnon Street, and other related improvements from Dartmouth Way to a point east of McKinnon Street. The first phase of the project was awarded to Granite Construction Company.

The site preparation process includes fencing of the construction yard and installation of animal exclusion fencing. Residents might see some traffic impacts during the day and intermittent night work beginning Nov. 18.

Beginning next week, residents may experience some traffic impacts during the day and as needed at night.

Daytime work hours are 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Any lane closures occurring during the day will take into consideration the McKinnon School bell schedule, and flagging will be in place during any lane closures. Work will include surveying, staking, existing sidewalk and curb demolition, street repairs to prepare for the project, installation of temporary fencing, constructing berm and trenching, and sewage and drainage work.

Night work hours are 8 p.m.-6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, although there may be additional work authorized outside of these days as needed for specific operations.

Work will include the installation of safety railing, the installation of a temporary crash cushion system, and patching and sewage and drainage work.

The overall project includes the widening of East Boronda Road into a four-lane roadway (two lanes at each direction), and the construction of 4 multi-lane roundabouts at the intersections of McKinnon Street (Phase 1) and at El Dorado Drive, Natividad Road, and Independence Boulevard (future phases), according to city documents.

The stretch of East Boronda Road from Dartmouth Way to Independence Boulevard is nearly 2 miles long.

The project will include bioretention facilities (rain gardens that use engineered soils and specific plants to trap and uptake pollutants in stormwater), buffered bike lanes, bus pullouts, sidewalks, ADA-compliant access ramps, storm drain lines, sanitary sewer lines, street lighting, landscaping, and other improvements.

Future phases are contingent on funding availability and obtaining all the necessary environmental permits.

The project addresses the City Council’s Strategic Goals of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability, and Economic Development, according to the city.

Funding sources for the project includes Measure G $5,500,000, development fees — arterial $5,818,176, gas tax $1,000,000, Measure X — Transportation Safety & Investment Plan $2,318,918, Regional Surface Transportation Program fund through TAMC $4,000,000, (Competitive Grant) Air District Grant $400,000, for a total of $19,037,094. Expenditures (encumbered and expended through June 5, 2024) total $3,527,916, which makes $15,509,178 currently available. Expenditures include spent and encumbered funds for the project’s environmental, preliminary design, and detailed design phases.

The estimated construction costs for phase one of the project are $20,764,584.93.

A summary of the projected costs include the construction cost (Granite’s Bid) $15,637,796.93, contingencies (12%) $1,876,540, construction management services (MNS Engineers, Inc.) $1,829,248, construction support — design (Wallace Group) $400,000, administrative overhead (2 years) $100,000, city staff project management (2%) $312,700, environmental mitigation (Sparling Ranch) (Phase 1 and 2a) $608,300. Total estimated construction costs are $20,764,584.93.