Fifth District Supervisor John C. Zaragoza
A groundbreaking ceremony for the paving of Wright Road in the unincorporated area of El Rio will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 23, according to a media release by Fifth District Supervisor John Zaragoza.
The ceremony will be held at the intersection of Wright Road and Alvarado Street.
Since taking office, Zaragoza said he has been looking for ways to improve this private roadway. The El Rio area does not have sidewalks. When it rains, flooding occurs at most intersections and Wright Road becomes the only alternative route. Many children have to use this road to walk to and from school.
“This is an unsafe, unhealthy alternative for students and their parents to be using,” Zaragoza stated in the release.
This is a private roadway it is not eligible for public funds, such as, “Safe Routes to School”, a State grant for road improvements, he said.
Zaragoza has brought together Robert Eranio, consultant to Cloverdale Mutual Water District, and David Valenzuela from Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 585 to work together on this project. The Cloverdale Water District, owner of Wright Road, will do all of the engineering work, permit plans, and notifications. The Southern California Laborers’ Union Apprenticeship Program Local 585, and Southern California Operating Engineers Apprenticeship Program Local 12, will do the road work needed to pave the road. Material, equipment, and transportation will be provided by local business. They are: State Ready Mix, Toro Enterprises, Loera Trucking, New TURF Construction, Total Barricade Service, Granite Construction, Highway Technologies Inc., Security Paving Company, E.J. Harrison & Sons Inc., Agromin Premium Products and others. These services and materials come to about $485,000 to the community; Cloverdale Water Mutual Company has invested about $80,000 to this project.
“LIUNA Local 585 and the apprentices who will work on this project couldn’t be more proud to have helped in making our community safer for the families and children who use Wright Road,” David Valenzuela, business manager, stated in the release. “And, it’s through partnerships like these that train workers in construction skills and help build a family-supporting career that make our community stronger and more prosperous.”
“This has always been about the kids. I am so proud of this community for coming together to make this happen, free of public funds, accomplished by people who just want to give back to their community,” Zaragoza said. “Working together, building partnerships like this creates healthy communities. This project will provide training necessary for those seeking construction jobs, and in turn build a strong economic community. This is a win/win for all involved.”
Attending the groundbreaking will be Sheriff Geoff Dean, Commander Tim Hagel, Commander Patricia Salas, and members from Cloverdale Water Co., board members from El Rio School District and from Ventura County Public Works Agency: Jeff Pratt, Agency Director, Reddy Pakala, and David Fleisch.
Many thanks to them for their valuable contribution in help us move this project forward, Zaragoza said,
For more information, please call Zaragoza at 805-654- 2613, or send an e mail to Supervisor.Zaragoza@ventura.org