Temporary “No Parking” signs were placed on the sidewalks and in front of parking spots along Park Drive in Wrightwood on September 1st due to the Wrightwood Park Drive Project. The improvements to the main roads in the downtown area of Wrightwood were approved in July by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. The SB County Public Works has contracted with a private company, All American Asphalt from Corona, to construct ADA ramps and pavement improvements on Park Drive, Evergreen Road, and Apple Avenue between Pine Street and Cedar Street.

The project was awarded $829,819, and according to a public notice that was sent out to residents and businesses located on these streets, “The construction shall include mill and overlay, full depth reconstruction, and constructing ADA ramps, sidewalks, curb and gutter, cross gutter, concrete drainage swale and placing AC dike.” The asphalt concrete (AC) dike will prevent flooding from entering the parks, businesses, and the Veterans Memorial, where water will instead be diverted into concrete drains. Five ramps will also be constructed, one on Apple Ave., two on Evergreen Rd, and two near the North end of Park Drive. The project is currently underway and estimated to be completed sometime in October 2023.

Residents can expect construction crews to work between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Specific dates and times for street closures on Park Drive, Evergreen Road, and Apple Ave will be posted along the roads. Look out for traffic cones and temporary “No Parking” warnings to avoid getting a ticket or towed.

Sheila Lamb, who works at Alice’s Vintage Cottage, said the road desperately needs repaving and is in bad shape. When asked if the scheduled road repairs were of any concern to their business sales, she said, “It is an inconvenience, but it needs to be done.” Public Works asks that vehicles not be parked on the roadway, and children should not play in the street during the scheduled days and hours. Trash cans and dumpsters also need to be removed from the street, and no water should run off into the roads. The re-pavement project comes just before Wrightwood’s busy winter season when an influx of visitors come into town to play in the snow.

Business owner Terry Briot of Cabin Fever has been at her retail location on Park Drive for the past four years and hasn’t experienced any road maintenance or paving done to the main street during her occupancy. She also mentioned that the road rarely got plowed during the blizzard in March when she had to shovel her own sidewalk and parking spaces in front of her shop for days before a snow plow came through. Briot said she hopes County Services steps it up this winter but also hopes the re-pavement project will be complete in time for the Jeep Rally & Chili Cook-off scheduled for Saturday, October 14th. “The Jeep show is now my new favorite event,” said Briot, who enjoys viewing all the unique and custom Jeeps that roll into town.

There is no estimated complete date for the project on Park Drive, but the Wrightwood Community Service District released the General Manager’s Report for September’s Board meeting in which WCSD Manager Tammy Keen states, “I have been in contact with the job foreman, and they hope to have the streets and other improvements completed by the first week of October.” The Wrightwood CSD will provide updates for the project, so be sure to follow them on social media at @wrightwoodcsd. Follow Tri-Community NewsPlus on Facebook for updates on road conditions and closures within the greater Tri-Community area @4newsplus.