To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: APPROVE the Morgan Territory Road Slope Failure Project and take related actions under CEQA
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE the Morgan Territory Road Slope Failure Project (Project) and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to advertise the Project, Clayton area. [County Project No. 0672-6U247, DCD-CP#26-15] (District II and III).
DETERMINE that this activity is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) and 15302(c).
DIRECT the Director of Department of Conservation and Development (DCD), or designee, to cause a CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) to be filed with the County Clerk and State Clearinghouse, and
AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to arrange for payment of a $50 fee to the County Clerk for filing the NOE.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated Project cost: $2,000,000.00, 100% Local Road Funds.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this Project is to restore a segment of Morgan Territory Road to its pre-disaster capacity following slope failure caused by storm events. The Project consists of constructing a new retaining wall structure, road improvements, erosion control measures, and drainage improvements. A soldier pile wall with an anchorage system will be installed to stabilize the roadway embankment and prevent continued erosion into Marsh Creek. A drainage inlet and pipe will be installed to improve drainage behind the retaining wall. The existing 42-inch corrugated steel pipe culvert that runs under Morgan Territory Road will be replaced with a 42-inch reinforced concrete pipe. Riprap will be placed on both sides of the replaced culvert to prevent scour. Vegetation and tree removal (approximately two trees) will be required to access the construction site and install the soldier pile wall. Construction will require earthwork equipment, including excavators, loaders, and compactors, which will operate primarily from the roadway.
Real estate transactions, including sliver right-of-way acquisitions and temporary construction easements (TCEs), will be necessary. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring/Summer 2027. Work will take place during the dry season and will require approximately 50 working days. Temporary traffic control, including partial roadway closures and short-duration full roadway closures, will be required during construction. Limited nighttime work may be necessary to minimize traffic disruptions during peak travel periods. Appropriate best management practices for water pollution control will be implemented to protect the creek. Applicable regulatory permits will be obtained before construction.
The project consists of the repair and reconstruction of an existing street and associated embankment failure with no addition of travel lanes. Therefore, the project involves negligible or no expansion of existing use/capacity and is exempt pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301(c) and 15302(c) of the CEQA Guidelines.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Delay in approving the project may result in a delay of design, construction, and may jeopardize ability to complete the project.