Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project earns first work approval

SANTA ANA — Upgrading Dana Point Harbor has been nothing more than talk for portions of three decades. Yet after nearly 19 years of talking about revitalization plans boaters, anglers and other harbor patrons could finally see the first seeds of change as the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a contract for landside improvements on March 22.

Griffith Co. was awarded a contract for more than $1.8 million to oversee roadway improvements at two intersections along Dana Point Harbor Drive. The construction is the first phase of the overall harbor revitalization.

“We are finally ready to get started on Phase 1 of our Dana Point Revitalization Project. This has been in the works for almost 18 years and [I’m] very excited to get started. The money that is allocated here comes out of the tidelands trust,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Lisa Bartlett, who previously served as Dana Point mayor and council member.

County staff said the roadway improvements, which would be made where Dana Point Harbor Drive meets Casitas Place and Puerto Place, is necessary to improve vehicular and pedestrian flow.

“This begins the initial phase of the overall Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project. Once completed these intersection and roadway improvements will aid harbor visitors while traveling to and through Dana Point Harbor,” county staff stated in a report to supervisors. “The construction at the Casitas Place and Dana Point Harbor Drive will provide for signal upgrades at the intersection, the addition of a right turn pocket from Casitas Place to Dana Point Harbor Drive and a crosswalk across Dana Point Harbor Drive on the easterly side of the intersection.”

Signal upgrades and median improvements will also be made at the intersection of Puerto Place and Dana Point Harbor Drive.

County staff added the roadway improvements would not only make it easier for pedestrian and vehicular traffic to flow along Dana Point Harbor Drive but also minimize issues during construction of waterside improvements.

Griffith Co. was one of six companies bidding on the roadway improvements project. The company’s bid of $1,874,478 was the lowest submitted and below the county engineer’s estimate of $2.1 million.

Roadway Engineering and Contracting Inc., Excel Paving Co., Los Angeles Engineering Inc., All American Asphalt and Hillcrest Contracting Inc. also submitted bids; the highest bid was submitted by Hillcrest Contracting ($2,481,213).

Supervisors approved the contract six days after issuing a formal Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to prospective vendors to redevelop and operate portions of the updated Dana Point Harbor. Bidders must submit their respective qualifications to the county by June 20. The RFQ will be followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP).

More information is available online at ocdph.com/revitalization/rfq.