Face-lifts for north Turlock corridors a pain for drivers for next few weeks

Travelers to and from north Turlock may want to steer clear of the main traffic corridors of Fulkerth and Geer roads for a few weeks as both get more wheelchair-friendly crossings and fresh pavement.

Drivers on Fulkerth Road, also known as Hawkeye Avenue east of Geer, will find the going slow and gravelly this week as paving efforts move forward from Olive Avenue to Golden State Boulevard.

Work should finish in a few weeks on what was one of the most heavily pocked roads in Turlock. Fulkerth from Golden State to Highway 99 got a retread in 2013, using a rubberized asphalt made from recycled tires.

Paving crews will head next to Geer Road. Work continues this week on Geer’s center dividers and curb ramps – work on the northbound left-turn lane to Christoffersen Parkway closed the adjacent lane Wednesday.

Expect the going to be slow starting next week along Geer as the stretch from Monte Vista to Taylor slims to one lane in each direction, said project manager Nathan Bray, senior civil engineer with the city of Turlock.

The schedule anticipates a week of grinding down the old pavement as well as repaving that is expected to take three to four days of the following week.

Lesser tie-ups will last a while longer while at-grade manholes and utility covers go in. Signal lights and wiring will need to be reinstalled. Then the road will get finishing touches of paint and polish.

The Geer Road project is slated to cost $1.25 million, paid with a $917,000 federal grant and $330,000 in gas tax revenue, Bray said.

This story was originally published May 20, 2015 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Face-lifts for north Turlock corridors a pain for drivers for next few weeks."