Workers Install New Vehicle Detectors On 6th Street

Contract workers on Thursday used pavement-cutting tools and hot tar to install new vehicle-detecting magnetic wires that will trigger traffic signals on eastbound 6th Street at Beaumont Avenue.

The old wires were torn out during a Caltrans repaving project from the 6th Street on-ramp and off-ramp to Interstate 10 seven blocks west of Beaumont Avenue, a crew supervisor said.

The Caltrans project, expected to be completed by the end of February, includes the eastbound lanes of 6th Street from the 10 to Beaumont Avenue, and southbound lanes of Beaumont Avenue between 6th Street and the 10 on-ramp, city spokeswoman Darci Mulvihill said.

The resurfacing project likely contributed to minor flooding Wednesday outside Ramona's Mexican Restaurant, said the business owner, Gil Vargas Sr., 6o, and his son, Gil Vargas Jr., 34.

Workers changed the location of a storm drain just west of the restaurant when that section of the street was repaved about three weeks ago, Gil Vargas Jr. said.

Firefighters sandbagged a section of the sidewalk Wednesday to keep rising water from entering Ramona's and two other businesses, Cal Fire-Riverside County officials said. A row of sandbags stacked two high remained on the sidewalk near Ramona's entrance today. More rain is expected Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Gil Vargas Sr. and his son emphasized they appreciated the firefighters' and they city's quick response Wednesday.

A spokesman for Caltrans District 8 said officials who know about the project were not available to discuss it Thursday afternoon.