Roseville approves $2 million contract for downtown Vernon St. improvements

After postponing construction several months, Roseville officials approved a roughly $2 million contract for upgrades at the downtown Vernon Street S curve at Atlantic Street. The City Council approved the $1.95 million construction agreement Oct. 15 with Martin Brothers for the Vernon Street/Atlantic Street multimodal safety improvement project. The city approved the plans last April. Work was expected to begin by last summer but stalled to a late fall beginning with completion by next summer, staff said. The project includes intersection improvements at Vernon and Atlantic streets and Folsom Road to improve traffic circulation and improve accessibility for bicyclists and pedestrians. Vernon Street through Downtown Roseville is a two-lane collector road with on-street parking and posted speed limits between 15 to 25 mph. The Downtown Specific Plan cites the need for improvements. The aim is to improve traffic circulation and accessibility for bikes and pedestrians, with better connections between Historic Old Town and downtown. The project will include improvements to Vernon Street beginning at Lincoln Street and extend through the S-curve to Yosemite Street, staff said. Work includes enhanced crosswalks, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons, green bike lanes, pavement rehab, lane reductions to slow speeds and turning restrictions at low-volume corners to reduce "conflict zones." The project will also improve corridor aesthetics by including a raised landscaped median upon entering Vernon Street into the downtown area. Construction is anticipated to begin before winter and completed by early spring 2026, said Roseville Engineer Karen Vences in the council report. The project is funded with highway grants, highway user taxes and local transportation funds. New landscaping along the corridor will require maintenance by the Roseville Parks Department. The estimated annual cost is $2,000, staff said. The contract was approved unanimously during the routine council consent agenda Oct. 15.