The latest news on the Miller Avenue Streetscape Project.
Save the Date!  Join us for MillerFest - A community celebration of the new Miller Avenue! Saturday, November 4th from noon to 4:00 pm. More details to come!
Miller Avenue Streetscape Project Update Week of September 4 - 8, 2017

What happened last week:
The contractor marked the layout for the striping of the road and continued to raised the sewer system manholes, as is standard practice in a street paving project. City crews have begun to restore previously painted red zones from Sunnyside to Willow to address safety and visibility requirements.

What is happening this week:
Work crews continue to raise utilities covered by paving operations up to the level of the newly paved roadway. The contractor also continues to stripe the road. Work crews have begun work in the Marsh area (Camino Alto-Almonte) to install a pedestrian/bicycle bridge and two new culverts and tide gates. Work is coordinated with Marin County and various permitting agencies. The contractor is also cleaning sewer service lines, in preparation of the cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) work to extend the lifespan of the existing sewer system (see sewer lining article below).

What to expect in the next few weeks:
The contractor will prepare median islands and sidewalk planting areas in the Main Street room in anticipation of landscaping work. The contractor will continue to install the pedestrian bridge connecting to the County pathway in the Marsh area and two tide gates. Contracted night work will begin the week of September 11 for the sewer repair work (see sewer lining article below). City crews will continue curb painting, restoring previously painted red zones along Miller Avenue from Park Avenue to Valley Circle.
Mid to late September, work crews will apply a pavement treatment and striping to the triangle shaped parking lot near downtown, just past Balboa Cafe on the outbound side of Miller. The work will require closing the parking lot for 3 days.

Please Note: There will be parking restrictions and lane shifts, to allow for final paving treatments, striping, sewer cleaning operations and other miscellaneous items.
Mill Valley Police are issuing citations for speed violations.
Speed Advisory

Please be advised that in response to reports of excessive speeds on the newly paved roadway, Mill Valley Police Officers will be monitoring traffic speeds and issuing citations to violators.

For your safety, the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers on Miller Avenue, please obey the posted speed limit signs.
Sewer Lining - Day and Night Work Scheduled

As a part of the Miller Avenue Streetscape Project, the City's contractors will repair the public sewer pipes along Miller Avenue using a construction method call "cured-in-place pipe" (CIPP), which involves installing a flexible tube that gradually hardens to form a rigid, smooth surface that seals cracks and restores the sewer pipe lining. Existing manholes are utilized for the majority of construction, minimizing the amount of open trench excavation required for the job.

Construction will take place during the day and at night. Night work is necessary because the lining must be placed when sewer flows are reduced, as was approved as part of the construction contract. Anticipated impacts for the work are lane closures, parking restrictions, construction noise, and the odor from the lining process. Notices will be delivered to those residences or businesses directly impacted by the work in terms of sewer access.  

The work schedule is as follows:
  • September 6-8: Day work (7am-7pm) in manholes to preparation of CIPP work  
  • September 11-20:  Nighttime work (7pm-7am) for CIPP work, and additional day work (as needed)
  • Late October/early November, dates to be determined
Residents, motorists, and businesses may smell a chemical odor during the pipe-lining work. The odor is from the chemical styrene, which is in the resin liner installed inside the pipe. Styrene is a clear, colorless liquid that is used in the production of many everyday products such as plastic packaging, counter tops, disposable cups and containers, insulation and others. We are constantly exposed to small amounts of styrene in both ambient and indoor air, mostly attributable to emissions from building materials, and consumer products. 

Second Phase of Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Path Work to Begin

Please be aware of pedestrian/bike detours during construction.

The County of Marin has completed the first phase to rehabilitate the popular Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Pathway after three months of construction, and the second phase started Tuesday, September 5. The completed improvements include a repaved 0.7-mile stretch of pathway from East Blithedale Avenue to Vasco Court in Mill Valley that was widened to meet statewide bicycle and pedestrian safety standards. The second phase includes paving work from East Blithedale to Almonte.

Read the entire press release here.

As a part of the Miller Avenue Streetscape Project, the City is building a pedestrian/bike bridge that will connect Miller Avenue to the Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Path, which also started on Tuesday, September 5. The bridge is being installed south of Camino Alto across the street from the Tam High athletic fields.

Learn more here.
REMINDER: New Evergreen Avenue Median Configuration

We would like to advise motorists of a new traffic pattern at Evergreen and Miller Avenue intersection. 

The "Whole Foods" intersection at Evergreen and Miller Avenue has been modified based on the adopted Streetscape Plan and now prohibits left turns from Evergreen onto Miller Avenue.

Motorists traveling inbound on Miller Avenue may turn left onto Evergreen Avenue or make a U-Turn on Miller Avenue outbound (toward Tam High). Motorists on Evergreen Avenue may only turn right (left turns towards downtown elimintated). 

The median design features a new turn around pocket a half block before Evergreen from the inbound direction. This allows U-Turns to take place one block earlier, to reduce traffic volumes at Evergreen. 

This new traffic configuration is part of the adopted Miller Avenue Streetscape Plan, and was implemented due to pedestrian safety concerns and to minimize vehicle conflicts in the intersection. Traffic studies at this intersection also indicate that the majority of turns onto Miller Avenue are headed outbound.
Where Can I Park?

Please see below for a list of parking options. Construction may impact some of these areas - please look for signs.
  • 4 Hour Parking - 4 hour parking is available in the Public Parking lot located at 411 Miller Avenue, across the street from Whole Foods.
  • 2 Hour Parking - 2 hour public parking is available on the street when not needed for construction (please look for signs), and is also available in the front section of the Whole Foods parking lot located at 400 Miller Avenue.
  • Other Parking - Parking will be permitted in the Parkway and Gateway as permitted by the construction schedule. Please look for signs to indicate parking availability in these areas.
  • Private Lots - Many businesses have private parking lots. Call ahead and ask if you can park in their private lot.
  • Downtown Employee Parking - Parking is available in the lot at 38 Miller Avenue or in the lot behind D'Angelos if you are an employee with an e-sticker and the "E Zone" parking spaces are blocked by construction activity or equipment.
Thank You for your Patience During Construction

The City of Mill Valley would like to send out a special thank you to the Mill Valley community for your continued patience during construction and to the M&G construction crew for its continued progress on the Miller Avenue Streetscape Project!  

City and Construction Management staff are making every effort to mitigate impacts during construction and are working with the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce to notify local businesses and residents of the planned work. City and Construction Management staff are available to answer questions and review concerns. 
Contact Us:

Construction Specific Questions or Concerns:  
Please contact 4LEAF Construction Management 
Phone: (415) 328-6972 
Email:  [email protected]

General Questions or Concerns:
Please contact Linn Walsh, Assistant to the City Manager  
City of Mill Valley 
Stay Informed
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