A street improvement project in the community of Laton in Fresno County, California, has been recognized with an Outstanding Project Award in the “Bikeways and Trails” category from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Francisco Section. Engineered by Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, the upgrades focused on the streets and sidewalks in the vicinity of the 400-student Laton Elementary School.
The project consisted of curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements along five streets surrounding the school, as well as the addition of pedestrian warning lights and drainage improvements. The upgrades included the addition of curb returns to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Prior to the improvements, students and families walking or biking to and from Laton Elementary School were challenged by narrow roads and dirt shoulders in the residential neighborhood. The addition of the sidewalks and curb returns now enables students to travel safely to and from school.
Fresno County, working in partnership with the Laton Community Service District, oversaw the award-winning project, which was federally funded. The design team, which included Dewberry and JLB Traffic Engineering, Inc., devised innovative measures to minimize the schedule by avoiding right-of-way impacts and utility relocations.
