UKIAH, CA., 3/11/25 – The multi-year construction slog known as the Urban Core Transportation Project continues in Ukiah the city said this week.
Progress is being made along Main Street, said Traci Boyl, senior analyst for the city of Ukiah. Boyd anticipates the final phase of the water line project to be completed in a week or two. After that, crews will move on to install ADA ramps and sidewalks.
Work also continues along the notoriously congested and bumpy Gobbi Street.
According to Boyl, after the Main Street water line connections are complete, workers will return to East Gobbi Street to install a new water main between Orchard and Main Streets. This will take up to six weeks.
Commuters by car, foot and bus are likely familiar with the repeated closures of East Gobbi Street over the past year as crews worked to replace sewer lines.
The new water main work along East Gobbi was not in the original plan.
“Due to multiple significant failures in the system during construction, it became clear that replacing the water main was necessary,” Boyl said, “Therefore, city staff worked diligently to secure funding and adjust the project schedule to incorporate this work now, rather than delaying it and potentially needing to tear up newly-paved streets in the near future.”
Once again, East Gobbi Street between Orchard Avenue and Main Street will be closed, impacting traffic, residents and businesses. The city promises to provide access to residents, workers, emergency responders and delivery vehicles as needed.
No specific date was provided for the East Gobbi closure. However, based on the timeline provided by Boyl, closures could begin by mid-March at the earliest, so plan accordingly.
Drivers along West Gobbi Street are likely traumatized by the potholes that plague the busy road. According to Boyl, drivers, bikers and cyclists can rejoice when the road undergoes grading and paving.
It will take time – Rome wasn’t built in a day. The project will take place over intervals through summer.
The first part of the paving project will take place Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4 from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Gobbi Street will be closed between State and Dora Streets to all traffic, driveways and on-street parking during those dates and times. The road will reopen in the evening. Residents of West Gobbi Street will be required to move their vehicles by 7 a.m. each day.
Residents and businesses will be notified in advance of any service interruptions. The city says to please use caution in the area and consider alternate routes when possible.
For information on MTA buses, call 707-462-1422 or visit Mendocino Transit. For construction details, visit City of Ukiah Construction.
Lots of the city pipes are old. We had a major water pipe break in front of my house a few weeks ago. The pipe was put in in 1953. And broke where a newer pipe was attached in 1955 when Lockwood drive was built out with newer homes.other parts of the city are approaching 100 years old.
While they’re at it maybe they could just peel the “asphalt” off Main Street. I’m pretty sure and actual dirt road would be smoother. Iraq had better roads.
This has got to be one of the most ignorant things that Ukiah has decided to do with a Main Street once more proving that the Board of Supervisors and the city council have no idea what they’re doing and they’re just finding a way to waste taxpayer money instead of doing what needs to be done in the city. Now you look pretty much cut off the left turn lane to go into areas like senior housing complex and the mobile home complex across the street and the businesses along the street so now there will be more traffic more backup and more of a problem but you people seem to not care at all. I see downtown and all I can think of every time I’m down there is that you cut off a lane of traffic and there’s not as much parking now. It’s not more beautiful at all honestly it’s just a bigger mess and causes more problems with traffic. Do you even get people that comment on these things or do you just ignore their comments and do whatever you want? Just wondering