Stockton, CA – Yesterday, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the week of May 19th – May 25th as Public Works Week in San Joaquin County. Since 1960, the American Public Works Association has sponsored National Public Works Week, during which nearly 30,000 members across North America educate and energize the public about the importance of public works in their daily lives.

“Public Works Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the more than 450 public works professionals in the County,” said San Joaquin County Public Works Director, Fritz Buchman. “These professionals advance our quality of life by providing critical infrastructure services such as transportation and roads, water treatment and management, public buildings and spaces, emergency response, and solid waste. They are what make our communities vibrant places to live, work, and play.”

This year's theme is "Advancing Quality of Life for All". The theme shines a spotlight on the way public works professionals advance our quality of life, whether as a first responder to an electricity outage or flood event, regular waste pickup, road and sidewalk improvements, water management, or a myriad of other ways they silently serve their communities.

Some of the local public works projects that are making a difference in San Joaquin County include:

• Moveable Span Bridge Repairs. This project consists of repairing and replacing the mechanical and electrical systems on four movable span bridges in San Joaquin County due to their age and condition.
• Bridge Approach Railings Project. This safety project will upgrade outdated bridge approach guardrail systems with an approved standard guardrail system at five locations along West Lane and Lower Sacramento Road.
• 2024-2025 Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Road Maintenance and Repair Projects. Funded through SB 1 dollars, the County is expected to receive over $18.76 million in 2024-2025 for 11 essential road maintenance and rehabilitation projects, safety improvements, bridge repairs or replacements, and access and mobility improvements.
• Oro Avenue and Section Avenue Sidewalk Improvements. Located in the Garden Acres community, this project will install sidewalks on Oro Avenue from Section Avenue to Main Street and along the north side of Section Avenue from Oro Avenue to Sinclair Avenue. These improvements will enhance pedestrian access and promote alternative modes of travel.
• Slurry Seal and Chip Seal 2024 Projects. These projects consist of applying seal coat treatments to over 65 miles of County roadways to deter water intrusion, provide better friction, and preserve the structural integrity of the roadways.
• East Country Club Reconstruction, Phase IV. Located on Middlefield Road and Lake Drive in the Country Club community, this project will reconstruct the existing roadway and sidewalks to improve the existing road surface and provide sidewalks that meet current design standards. Sexton Road Bridge Replacement over South San Joaquin Irrigation District Canal. Located southwest of Escalon, this proposed project will replace the existing aging bridge with a new two-lane concrete structure to accommodate expected drainage flows and raise the approach roadway to improve visibility.
• Hydrogen Powered Traffic Signal Backup System Project. This project consists of converting 31 traffic signal backup systems from battery power to hydrogen power. Benefits of the project include a longer duration of back-up power (from 4 hours to 7 days), zero carbon emissions, and increased ability of County personnel to respond to other roadway issues during storm or emergency events.
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System Project. SCADA allows the ability to monitor and regulate water flows remotely. This Project is intended to increase the longevity of current utility infrastructure; allow the ability to detect equipment failures more quickly and efficiently; reduce future utility maintenance and operations costs; and reduce replacement costs for these utility systems. New Flare Installation at North County Landfill. The project will install a new compliant low nitrogen oxide (NOx) flare with greater capacity to process gas produced by the North County landfill. The project will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The County installed the first low NOx flare in California at Foothill Landfill, and this new flare will mirror that installation.
• Lincoln Village Maintenance District Water System Improvements. This project includes $2 million in Federal funds for water system improvements in Lincoln Village Maintenance District. The County is moving forward with a $30 million multi-phase project to replace water lines and improve the water system in the district.
• Raymus Village TCP Treatment Project. The County is nearing completion on a water treatment facility in the Raymus Village Maintenance District. This $3 million project will remove 1,2,3-Trichloropropane contamination (TCP) and was constructed at no cost to district residents.
• Thornton Community Water System Improvements. Construction is anticipated to begin later this year on water system improvements for the Thornton community. Project components include completing water main loops and performing a pipeline cleaning process called ice pigging that utilizes an ice slurry to remove deposits from existing water lines.

“Public works professionals work around the clock to provide essential services that are the foundation for all local communities by improving the quality of life for both present and future generations. We are grateful for their contributions, commitment, and hard work,” concluded San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair, Miguel Villapudua.

To learn more about the San Joaquin Public Works Department and their essential services, visit their Website or check out their Annual Report.

###