The Los Altos City Council, Oct. 12, authorized $25,270 to replace the signal controller and cabinet at the intersection of Covington Road and El Monte Avenue.
According to city staff, the upgrade is necessary for optimal coordination between the city-operated traffic lights at the El Monte-Covington intersection and the Santa Clara County signal at the intersection of El Monte and Foothill Expressway.
Once the controller is installed and construction completed, the county can monitor the intersection from San Jose and adjust timings live for better traffic flow in all directions.
The county roadwork at the El Monte-Foothill intersection appears to have created the worst-case scenario for traffic congestion, Los Altos officials said last week. Delay and gridlock for motorists coming down El Monte from Interstate 280 has resulted from the continuing construction as well as the lack of coordination between the signals at Foothill and Covington.
Cones, equipment and construction crews add to the overall confusion among motorists uncertain of how to maneuver the intersection while the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department finishes the upgrades. Workers expect to complete the handicap ramps and add signage and striping by the end of the month.
The improvements are intended to create better traffic flow. All lanes will remain unchanged except for the right lane on the portion of El Monte between Covington and Foothill. Cars tr
on this portion of the road must turn right; the lane will no longer continue over Foothill. Only the left lane will allow cars to continue straight. This is a permanent change, said Public Works Director Jim Porter.
The council directed staff to continue conversations with the county about the possibility of undoing the construction if the city decides the changes are too disruptive. Staff suggested that the project should function for three to six months before they make a final decision on whether to return it to its original configuration.
If the decision is made by November, the estimated cost of restoration would be $30,000 to $50,000, with an additional two months of disruption. If the decision is made later, there will be a supplemental charge of $5,000 to $15,000. The county indicated that the city would be expected to fund the reconfiguration in either case.
Porter said the city plans to continue to monitor the intersection changes. The city is not asking residents who drive this area to use an alternative route, he added.
