Moreno Valley Awarded 2013 Project of the Year

The city of Moreno Valley has just received the 2013 Project of the Year award from the Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the Cactus Avenue/Nason Street Improvement Project. APWA is the professional association of public works leaders throughout the United States and Canada. The Southern California Chapter covers Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The National APWA President, Edward A. Gottko, presented the award to city staff at the city of Lakewood Civic Center on Dec. 10. Managed by the city's public works department, the Cactus Avenue/Nason Street Project involves approximately two miles of improvements: • Widened streets. Gaps that used to create traffic choke points have been eliminated providing connectivity between two major hospitals and medical facilities, businesses and schools, plus enhancing access to a freeway interchange. • Installed sidewalks, curb ramps, Class 2 and 3 bikeways and a drought-tolerant landscaped median. • Constructed flood control improvements. • Included the city's first network of 48 energy efficient LED street lights that provide a brighter light source while reducing the project's carbon footprint. • Removed 37 existing power poles and buried the overhead utility lines. • Recycled 5,400 tons of asphalt and concrete and paved the entire roadway with rubberized asphalt, diverting more than 22,000 tires from the landfill. The city completed the project two months ahead of schedule, resulting in more than $2 million in savings. This is the second consecutive year that the city of Moreno Valley has received the Project of the Year Award from the Southern California Chapter of the APWA.