Syphon Reservoir Access Road Improvement Project
Irvine Ranch Water District contractors will be constructing the first phase of a new access road to IRWD's Syphon Reservoir from Sand Canyon Avenue that will eventually replace the current access point through the Crean Lutheran High School Athletic Complex.
This phase of the new, paved access road will start at the north end of the intersection of Sand Canyon Avenue and Portola Parkway, identified as No. 1 on the map above, and follow the general contours of an existing dirt road to point No. 2.
The project calls for about six to eight months of actual construction activity, most of which will occur on District property north of Portola. Some intersection roadwork will also occur at various points within the project’s yearlong timeframe.
Staff has worked withthe City of Irvine and Crean Lutheran High School to ensure the safety of students and pedestrians walking by the construction site, and motorists and bicyclists, through the use of city-approved traffice control measures such as concrete barriers and flag crews as needed. The westbound bicycle lane on Portola Parkway is expected to remain open at all times.
What: Construction of the first phase of a paved access road to the reservoir off Sand Canyon Avenue, along with associated intersection improvements.
Construction period: February 2024 to February 2025.
Construction hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in public right of ways; 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. within District property.
For more information, please email info@IRWD.com or call 949-453-5500.
December 2024: Crews will construct a temporary pedestrian walkway at the beginning of the month to make way for the demolition of the existing driveway and pouring of a new driveway through the rest of the month. The temporary walkway will be bordered by K-rail for safety. Crews will transition to street work in January 2025. Traffic controls will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays.
November 2024: Work on a terrace drain will take up much of the early part of the month. An existing driveway will be removed and replaced with a new driveway later in the month and into December. A pedestrian walkway along the north side of Portola will be rerouted to accommodate that construction, using K-rail for safety.
October 2024: Construction of the wall rimming the roadway will be completed early in the month, to be followed by curb and gutter work.
September 2024: Work will continue on the wall rimming the roadway early in the month, then move to the driveway apron for the new road, at which time the pedestrian detour will be reopened for safety.
August 2024: Construction crews will remove plant material from parkway and center median areas affected by upcoming construction. A temporary walkway will be established along the north side of Portola Parkway to allow for work to take place within the existing sidewalk area for storm drains and a driveway apron for the new road. The pedestrian detour will be rerouted for a few weeks to the area of the original sidewalk early in the week of Aug. 26.
July 2024: Construction crews will continue work on the wall rimming the driveway. Toward the end of the month, work will begin to prepare for a temporary walkway to be used by pedestrians during construction of the project.
June 2024: Work will be focused this month on the wall that will rim the edge of the driveway. This will include installation of rebar, placement of shotcrete, footings, and more.
May 2024: Storm drain construction will continue into the middle of this month to complete work for two additional storm drain lines. This will include excavation, laying of pipeline, and backfilling, along with other construction.
April 2024: Storm drain construction will continue this month, including removal of a v-ditch, road excavation, digging and backfilling, and other construction.
March 2024: Work will begin the week of March 11 to clear and grub the site to make way for construction later this month, beginning with storm drain work.
February 2024: Work will begin this month to install temporary fencing and temporary erosion control for the project.
