Council gives OK for work to begin on south Brand

Work from Colorado Street to San Fernando Road is said to cost $1.45 million to $1.65 million and will be completed by July.CITY HALL -- Work crews are gearing up for a repeat performance on Brand Boulevard, but this time the venue will be south of Colorado Street.

The City Council, minus two absent members, unanimously approved plans Tuesday night for a rehabilitation job along the city's main thoroughfare between Colorado and San Fernando Road, a project that will cost between $1.45 million and $1.65 million, according to an estimate from the city engineer's office.

While the work on North Brand Boulevard has generated controversy, sales manager Todd McGowan of Toyota of Glendale was cautiously optimistic about the impending work on South Brand.

"We do have some concerns about access during construction, but we have been through construction before and worked with the city through that, and we will continue to do so during this project," McGowan said. "We are looking forward to the improvements."

The next step is for the city to put the project out to bid. City officials hope to begin construction in May and complete the project by July.

Crews are still in the process of completing the $7.92-million Phase I of the North Brand Boulevard Improvement Project, which was originally set to be finished in October. Unexpected conflicts with underground utilities, including a $1.1-million water main that had to be replaced, delayed the first phase of the project, which encompassed the boulevard between Colorado street and Milford streets. The remaining three blocks between Wilson Avenue and Milford have yet to be completed and are now scheduled to be finished by April.

Delays prompted business owner Robert van Bebber to file a $58,000 claim against the city, stating that poor planning on the part of city officials cost him and fellow Brand Boulevard merchants thousands of dollars in revenue.

The second phase of the North Brand project, a short stretch between Doran Street and Sanchez Drive, proceeded much more smoothly. It was finished on schedule, with final capping of the roadway completed by mid-December, with striping added at the beginning of January.

The revamping of South Brand Boulevard should proceed as smoothly, Mayor Rafi Manoukian said.