This is an assignment for surveying class that I decided to post. Enjoy!

Since I live near Signal Hill, I often drive in the area, especially on Cherry Avenue. That area is currently the subject of a street maintenance project.

When I noticed the construction, I returned home to get my camera, and took some photos while driving by that day (9/16) and then a couple of days later (9/18). The portion of Cherry Avenue near the intersection with Willow Avenue is quite busy, with traffic cones and heavy equipment working in the center of the street. When I first saw it, it was obvious that a large strip of asphalt had been scraped off down to the gravel, but I wasn't quite sure what was going on at first.

9/18/09 - beginning of trench on Cherry Ave, just north of Hill St.	9/18 - Road roller near trench for center divider
9/18 - Excavating	9/19 - new center divider

I returned home and checked the website for the City of Signal Hill. No information there, so I emailed them and got a reply.

According to the spokesperson, this is a normal periodic street maintenance project by the City of Signal Hill. They hired contractors to do the work - Hardy & Harper Inc. for the paving and concrete, and Dynalectric for the electrical. It started 9/14 and is scheduled to be done by the end of October. Cherry Avenue within the city limits (from Hill Street to Spring Street) is being resurfaced, apparently starting at the south near Hill Street and working north. They are currently concentrating on replacing the center dividers and maintaining the traffic signals, and are working quite fast. When I returned two days later to the spot where I had seen the stripped-off asphalt, a new center divider had just been poured. Half a block north, there were metal rods stuck in the ground at intervals (for vertical control?). I came back later that day, and saw that the center divider had been extended to where the rods were.

9/19 - men at work	9/19- rods for new divider
9/19 - Dynalectric markings	9/19 - surveying point?

I parked my car just north of Willow Avenue, where the construction had not yet started, and took some photos of the DigAlert markings on the street and sidewalk. I found what appears to be the contractor's marks (n white). I saw some utility markings in red (electric?) and yellow, apparently for Long Beach Gas. There was also an orange dot which might be a turning point or benchmark.

The city also set up signs at the city limits where Cherry Avenue exits/enters Signal Hill. "Project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act". Our economic stimulus at work!

9/19 - DigAlert markings	9/19 - marks for traffic signal excavation
9/19 - Long Beach Gas markings	9/19 - project information sign