For Immediate Release: July 21, 2020
Contact: Norm Dorais, Public Works Director, (650) 286-3279, ndorais@fostercity.org
The City of Foster City is pleased to announce that construction of major improvements and enhancements to the City’s levee will begin later this year. At its July 20 meeting, the City Council approved a contract to Shimmick Construction for these improvements, which marked the final step leading to the start of construction.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in late summer or early fall 2020 and will take approximately 3 years to complete. During construction, use of the levee pedway/trail will be interrupted as significant earth moving work and other construction activities take place along Beach Park Boulevard. Residents in the vicinity of the project can expect an increase in noise, dust, and traffic delays. The City and its contractor will make every effort to minimize disruption, and keep residents informed of the work and its expected impacts as the project progresses.
The project will increase the levee height and make other significant improvements designed to protect Foster City homes, schools, businesses, and essential infrastructure during storms and high tides, and from future sea level rise. The improved levee will also be more resistant to earthquake damage. In addition, as part of the project, the Levee Bay Trail will be widened to provide an enhanced, more inviting recreation destination for all users.
“This has been a long process, but we’re excited to have reached this milestone in the Levee Improvements Project,” said Interim City Manager Dante Hall. “This project is possible thanks to the voters’ approval of Measure P, which represents a meaningful partnership between the City and the community. Despite temporary inconveniences and disruption, this project will result in an improved levee to protect our community for generations to come.”
In 2014, FEMA determined that Foster City’s levee system does not meet minimum requirements for flood protection. In the interest of protecting people and property and avoiding designation of Foster City as a flood zone (which would require expensive flood insurance for most homeowners), Foster City voters passed Measure P in 2018 to fund the levee improvements. The Measure P levy will start appearing on Foster City property tax bills starting this fall at a rate of approximately $37 per $100,000 of assessed property value.
For more information about this project, please contact the Foster City Public Works Department at (650) 286-3270 or visit www.FosterCityLevee.org. Sign up for email construction updates by visiting this website or by emailing leveeproject@fostercity.org. Any construction-related issues may be reported to the project hotline at 1-800-213-6320.