Construction Update: New Brookside Ave., Bridge to Open This Week

After approximately four months of construction and closures, Brookside Avenue will be open to the public this week-- just in time for Beaumont High's graduation ceremony.

However, though the road will be open to help ease traffic for this event in which thousands are expected to attend, the opening is more of a "soft" opening for one day only: Friday.

Construction crews say the road will be opened for graduation, but will close again a day later for some final touches, like striping, signage and a final layer of asphalt.

The road, which used to be just one lane in each direction, will now feature: 

• A new bridge to prevent flooding on the road
• 1 lane eastbound
• 1 lane westbound
• 2 bike lanes
• A sidewalk that's 7.5'-10' in certain spots

In total, the roadway used to measure just 25' wide-- and will now be more than double that at 55', plus the sidewalk, on the improved stretch between Beaumont Avenue and the south entrance of Beaumont High School.

The new bridge which runs over Noble Creek was deemed necessary for public safety, due to the extensive flooding that would occur on the roadway, prior to construction.

Noble Creek drains a vast mountain watershed, and at Brookside Avenue it is capable of producing 11,000 cubic feet per second in a maximum 100-year event, said Ponce Yambot, administrative engineer with Beaumont Public Works.

Public Works Construction Manager Rob Owen gave Banning-Beaumont Patch a tour of the site on Friday, a week before the soft opening, and said that if it was needed-- the road could be opened right then for public use, as it was 99 percent complete.

Owen said that it was very important to his team to make the graduation deadline and they worked hard to finish work early.

“I’m most proud that everybody was able to work together," Owen said.  "The community, the council members, the utility company; getting it going and the contractor getting it done.  We made our schedule, making it [in time] for the graduation.  We could have graduation today if we wanted; we’re ready.”

On average, Owen said about 10 people worked on the project every day. 

Another highlight of the project?  The extensive use of recycled materials, according to Owen.

Approximately 6" of the base below the asphalt is made from something called "CMB," or crushed miscellaneous base, Owen said.  That means the material came from old roads that have been torn up and ground down to be repurposed.

Owen added that all the concrete and asphalt removed from the Brookside Ave. site during the demolition stage of construction was sent to a recycling plant to also become CMB. 

This project began in the first week of February, and .  City officials don't have the final tally just yet, but the project is expected to come in under budget, according to Owen.

After the soft opening, the road is expected to open for good on June 15.