Dangerous Roads For Lakeside High School Kids Will Get Safer, City Says

Construction of a pedestrian and bicycle path that will extend along Grand Avenue and Riverside Drive to Lakeside High School is continuing despite a recent speed bump that’s expected to be resolved during Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled Lake Elsinore City Council meeting.

Grant money and other funding are being used to construct a sidewalk along the dangerous school route and a pedestrian bridge over the existing flood control channel.

The sidewalk will extend from the school, along Riverside Drive, and onto a short stretch of Grand Avenue. (See attached graphic.)

"The installation of the new sidewalk segments will provide a safe pedestrian access to Lakeside High School between Grand Avenue and the west entrance to Lakeside High School," said Interim Lake Elisnore City Manager Tom Evans in a staff document being presented to City Council Tuesday night.

It was hoped the sidewalk would be completed by now, but delays have hindered the project that was first announced in June 2010. In the most recent holdup, the city learned that a Caltrans right-of-way did not extend as far as originally thought: San Diego-based Sunwood Lakeview LLC owns property where part of a temporary detour was planned during construction. To remedy the situation, city staff has drafted an agreement that, if signed by Sunwood Lakeview LLC, would allow temporary right-of-way access during construction.

According to city staff documentation, Sunwood Lakeview is willing to enter into the agreement with the city if the contract is approved Tuesday night by the council members.

The agreement is not expected to cost the city money, staff documentation shows.

Staff documents do not provide a timeline for project completion.

Tuesday night's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Cultural Center, 183 N. Main Street in Lake Elsinore.