TURLOCK — Just as Turlock Mayor John Lazar called for a ballot measure earlier this week to address the city’s ailing roadways, progress is finally being made toward fixing one of its busiest and bumpiest thoroughfares.

The City Council will discuss the Fulkerth Road Rehabilitation project, from Highway 99 to Golden State Boulevard, at its next meeting Tuesday night. The high-traffic zone is littered with potholes and cracks, making for a rattling ride coming off or going to the freeway.

The council will vote to award an $884,488 bid to Watsonville’s Granite Construction Company. The project will be funded in large part by federal and state money which would otherwise be forfeited if not used for the project. The city is also appropriating $192,800 from gas tax funds for the repairs.

The project will be the first in Turlock to use rubberized asphalt technology. The rubberized asphalt uses recycled tires and cuts down on waste. The rubberized asphalt is also supposed to last longer, be quieter and require less maintenance. The city received a $122,500 grant from CalRecycle to use the special rubberized asphalt.

As someone who just rode that same section of Fulkerth today, I can attest the need for repairs. Your car's shocks probably can as well.