Palm Avenue Street End Project

Palm Avenue Street End Project Honored with Public Works Award

melicone@portofsandiego.org (Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6281) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:43:21 +0000

The San Diego & Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) has selected a Port of San Diego project as “Project of the Year.”

The Palm Avenue Street End project, a $3 million public works project in the City of Imperial Beach, was awarded the honor at the Association’s monthly meeting, held on Sept. 10 at the Handlery Hotel and Resort in San Diego.

Established to promote excellence in public works projects, the APWA Project of the Year Award recognizes partnerships between the managing agency, the consultant, architect, engineer and the contractor, who work together to complete the project.

The multi-faceted project transformed the end of Palm Avenue at the oceanfront of Imperial Beach into a park-like setting. It also included important environmental and safety features. A new storm water pump station with a built-in pollution diversion system was installed to reduce urban runoff onto the beach. Other enhancements included the installation of ramps from the street end to the beach, providing direct beach access for emergency vehicles and individuals with disabilities.

Traffic improvements from the project included a new turnaround, which allows two-way traffic. Perpendicular parking was added to both sides of the street.

The project also included public art. The plaza became the site for an 18-foot tall bronze sculpture of a surfer and his longboard. Titled “The Spirit of Imperial Beach,” the artwork was created by the late A. Wasil and epitomizes the surf culture of the oceanfront city.

Reyes Construction was the contractor on the project and AECOM Transportation was the designer. It was jointly funded by the Port and the City of Imperial Beach, with assistance from the Proposition 50 Clean Beaches Grant Program. The grant funding was attained through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and the City of Imperial Beach.

Construction began in May, 2008 and was completed in January, 2009.

The American Public Works Association is an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies and individuals dedicated to providing high quality public works, goods and services. Originally chartered in 1937, APWA is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world, with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, an office in Washington D.C., and 64 chapters throughout North America.

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“Spirit of Imperial Beach” Dedicated

bmoreno@portofsandiego.org (Barbara Moreno) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:24:34 +0000

Visitors to Imperial Beach's oceanfront have a new piece of artwork to admire. The Palm Avenue Street End Project was dedicated Jan. 3, 2009.

The centerpiece of the project is the sculpture, "Spirit of Imperial Beach." The 18-foot-tall cast bronze sculpture was the work of late artist A. Wasil. The surfer in the artwork stands seven feet tall and carries a long board. The sculpture was designed to honor Imperial Beach, which many consider to be the birthplace of surfing.

Among those attending the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony were Imperial Beach Mayor Jim Janney, Michael B. Bixler, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners, and the family of the late artist.

The sculpture stands at the newly reconfigured Palm Avenue street end plaza, a $2.8 million public works project sponsored by the Port of San Diego, Imperial Beach and the State Water Resources Control Board. A semi-circular public overlook was created, providing a park-like setting for ocean viewing.

The project features important environmental and safety features, including a storm water pump station with a built-in pollution diversion system to reduce or prevent urban runoff from entering the beach, and the installation of ramps allowing direct beach access for the public.

Reyes Construction was the contractor for the project.

Imperial Beach Palm Avenue Street End Project Kicks Off as Port and City Officials Break Ground

gbatuyon@portofsandiego.org (Glenn Batuyong) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:11:38 +0000

A $2.8 million street end improvement project at the beachfront in Imperial Beach kicked off today as Port of San Diego and City of Imperial Beach officials ceremoniously shoveled dirt at the foot of Palm Avenue. The project will transform the street end into a park-like setting and beach overlook with benches, landscaping and lighting. The site will also feature an 18-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a surfer holding a longboard, evocative of the city's surf culture and history. Completion is anticipated later this year.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for $2.8 Million Palm Ave. Improvement Project in Imperial Beach

mpanes@portofsandiego.org (Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:30:44 +0000

Emergency vehicle access, pollution diversion system and public art all part of upgrades

A project to improve the western end of Palm Avenue at the oceanfront of Imperial Beach will kick off on Wednesday, July 2, with an official groundbreaking ceremony led by the Imperial Beach Mayor, Jim Janney, and Chair of the Board of Port Commissioners, Michael Bixler.

WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for Palm Avenue street improvement project

WHEN: 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 2, 2008

WHERE: Western end of Palm Avenue, at the Imperial Beach oceanfront

WHO: The Honorable Jim Janney, MayorCity of Imperial Beach

Michael B. Bixler, Chairman Board of Port Commissioners

Representatives from the Proposition 50 Clean Beaches Grant Program and the State Water Resources Control Board

SIGNIFICANCE: The multi-faceted project will beautify Palm Avenue by transforming its end into a park like setting. Colored concrete pavers, benches, landscaping and lighting will provide a public overlook for ocean viewing. It will also incorporate important environmental and safety features.

One of the primary goals of the project is to reduce pollution runoff onto the beach. This will be accomplished by installing a storm water pump station with a built-in pollution diversion system.

Other enhancements include installing ramps from the street end to the beach, providing direct beach access for emergency vehicles and individuals with disabilities.

Traffic improvements include a new turnaround, allowing two-way traffic and adding perpendicular parking to both sides of the street.

The end of Palm Avenue will also be the site for the upcoming installation of "The Spirit of Imperial Beach," an 18-foot tall bronze sculpture of a surfer and his longboard.

The $2.8 million construction project will be performed by Reyes Construction. It is being paid for by the Port and the City of Imperial Beach, with assistance from the Proposition 50 Clean Beaches Grant Program. The grant funding was attained through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and the City of Imperial Beach.

The estimated completion date for the project is January 1, 2009.

Palm Avenue Street End Project Gets Underway in Imperial Beach

gbatuyon@portofsandiego.org (Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6221) — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:55:40 +0000

Project benefits include enhanced beach access, improved water quality and public art
The Port of San Diego has begun a $2.8 million construction project that will reconfigure the Palm Avenue street end in Imperial Beach. The project will enhance the existing street end by making roadway improvements, adding a storm water diversion system, enhancing access to the beach, incorporating public art and adding landscape design elements.

Palm Avenue runs toward Ocean Lane on the Imperial Beach waterfront. A semi-circular public overlook area will be created, providing a park-like setting for ocean viewing. This area will be enhanced with colored concrete pavers, benches, landscaping and lighting. It will also be the site for the installation of an 18-foot-tall sculpture titled, “The Spirit of Imperial Beach.” The large bronze artwork by artist A. Wasil epitomizes the surf culture of Imperial Beach with a seven-foot-tall surfer and his longboard. It also includes two children creating a sand castle, evoking the image of the popular “Sandcastle Days” event held on the beach each summer. The sculpture will be installed when the street end project is completed.

Traffic improvements resulting from the street end project will include a new turnaround at Ocean Lane to allow for two-way traffic and the addition of perpendicular parking along both sides of the street.

A primary goal of this project is to prevent or reduce beach postings and closures by diverting the urban runoff from the Palm Avenue storm drain to the sewer system. This will be accomplished by installing a storm water pump station with a built-in pollution diversion system, which will help prevent runoff from flowing onto the beach.

Other important project features include installing ramps from the street end to the beach, providing direct access to the beach for the public. The project will also establish year-round lateral beach access for individuals with disabilities and access for emergency vehicles. These features are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act/Title 24 regulations. In addition, a seawall will be constructed to protect the new street end and sand will be replenished to return the shoreline to its original condition.

Reyes Construction will be performing the construction work, which is anticipated to be completed by January 1, 2009.

Funding for the project is provided by the Port of San Diego and the City of Imperial Beach, with assistance from the Proposition 50 Clean Beaches Grant Program. The grant funding was attained through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and the City of Imperial Beach.

The Port of San Diego is a public benefit corporation and special government entity. Created in 1963 by an act of the California legislature, the Port manages San Diego harbor and administers the public lands along San Diego Bay. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. With a $10.6 billion economic impact on the San Diego region, the Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 16 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police department and the leases of over 600 tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.