Full Notification

For questions or additional information, please contact Edric Kwan, Moraga's Public Works Director at 925-888-7026 or via e-mail at [email protected]

On Friday July 1, 2016, the Town of Moraga was notified by Caltrans representatives that the Town’s application for funding assistance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the initial response and repair of the sinkhole on Rheem Boulevard at Center Street was approved. The initial application was denied and the Town appealed the decision. The Town’s appeal was successful.

When Contra Costa County was included in Governor Brown’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency on April 19, the Town became eligible to apply for FHWA financial assistance. Since the Rheem Boulevard sinkhole was on a “minor arterial” street, the state required the Town to seek federal assistance through FHWA before the Town could apply for any state assistance. Had the Town’s appeal to FHWA been unsuccessful, the Town would have then applied to the state for assistance.

If all requested funding is deemed eligible, the Town will be reimbursed 100% for approximately $545,700 for “Emergency Opening (EO)” work. This covers the work the Town has done to date including the emergency response, road closure, traffic control, erosion protection, fencing, traffic signal, and other work associated with the gas line rupture, engineering, and construction management.

For work required to make repairs for “Permanent Restoration (PR)” of the sinkhole, the Town is eligible to receive 88.53% of eligible costs from the FHWA. The current estimate for the total cost associated with PR work is $2,948,125, which would split the costs between FHWA at $2,609,975 and the Town’s portion at $338,150 if all estimated costs are deemed eligible.

The Town’s acceptance of FHWA financial assistance requires the Town to follow FHWA guidelines and approvals for each step of the process. The Town’s original plan to award a contract for construction will now be delayed to meet the FHWA guidelines, which will shorten the available construction time prior to the rainy season that typically begins in mid-October. If the PR work cannot be completed during this construction season, the Town will implement plans to secure the work site and divert the storm water over the course of the winter until the project can resume.

The Town will keep the public and its business community updated through About Town, Nextdoor, and Nixle.

The Town staff is extremely thankful for the support from Senator Glazer and Assemblywoman Baker and their staffs throughout this process and for all of the community support and patience shown thus far. The Town is working diligently to get Rheem Boulevard and the community back to normal, anticipating lots of work ahead.