By Mary O’KEEFE

Construction will soon begin on the medians along Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta.

“The contractor has been given the go-ahead to start work as early as Sept. 4,” said Lisa Woung, project manager, Los Angeles County Public Works.

Construction is expected to run through November, ending by Thanksgiving.

“The contractors will start work on the east end of the project [Foothill Boulevard] which is near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Briggs Avenue,” Woung said.

The idea of medians along Foothill Boulevard has been talked about and planned on and off for the last two decades. This version of the medians began in 2013. Over the years, the Crescenta Valley Town Council held several meetings concerning the project and in 2016 held community meetings with LA County Public Works. In June, Woung was invited to the Crescenta Valley Town Council to share an update of the project.

There are seven planned medians along Foothill Boulevard that will stretch from Briggs Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue. There will be a break in front of the La Crescenta Library so as not to interfere with the left-hand turning lanes at La Crescenta Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

In the past there was some oppositions to medians but Woung said they found out that the strongest opponents to the project did not actually live in the area. This time there seems to be more support for the project.

Excel Paving Company won the bid for the project at $989,000. Notices of traffic closures will be sent out by Public Works and shared with schools, CVTC, CV Chamber of Commerce and the media.

The medians will include California native plants and other drought-tolerant plants.

“The Welcome to La Crescenta sign can’t be taller than three feet and will be lighted,” she said. “We are looking at your rocks and [what we are using] are really your rocks.”

Woung said the design team went to the Dunsmore Debris Basin and is going to be able to get all the rocks they need for decoration.

“And for free,” she added.

  Mary Okeefe