Auburn/Sylvan Intersection, Citrus Heights

The Project

Mark Thomas provided engineering, Right of Way, environmental and landscape services to widen the Auburn Boulevard/Sylvan Road intersection. This is a major gateway intersection for the City of Citrus Heights in a designated redevelopment area. The historic center of Citrus Heights, dating back to the 1860s, includes Old Route 40. The new streetscape and landscape design was based on a historic theme.

The Challenges

This project is a major gateway intersection for the City of Citrus Heights. It is also a designated redevelopment area. The City's desire was to have this roadway project jump start redevelopment at the intersection and along the Auburn Boulevard corridor. An elementary school and junior high school were located on one quadrant of the intersection. Improving the pedestrian access to these sites was important to the City.

The Results

A Specific Plan was developed to guide redevelopment in the area. To improve the potential for redevelopment, the project included a significant number of aesthetic features. To enhance the aesthetics and improve pedestrian safety, the intersection was squared off to eliminate a “free” right turn lane and pork chop island. The design changes resulted in City Right of Way that was repurposed into an aesthetically pleasing park. The aesthetic features included use of architectural lighting, decorative railings and benches, enhanced pavers, large oak trees, monument walls and other enhancements to improve the area and “entice” the community to gather at this site. MTCo engineers incorporated into the project design redevelopment of adjacent commercial parking lots, redesign of the storm drain system, undergrounding of overhead utility lines, and extensive aesthetic treatments to the intersection. Traffic handling and stage construction were prepared to maintain access to existing businesses and move traffic through the intersection.