Construction Planned on Emergency Ops Center

Updated: The concrete pour for this project has now been scheduled for 2:00 a.m., Thursday, June 17, 2010

Santa Barbara County residents living near Cathedral Oaks Road and Highway 154 near the new County Emergency Operations Center building project may notice some temporary activity at the site during the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 15 Thursday, June 17.

The contractor will begin pouring concrete beginning at about 2 a.m., June 17, weather permitting, due to the large volume of concrete required for the building’s foundation to meet seismic safety standards. The pour is expected to be completed later in the day.

The contractor will pour about 1,000 cubic yards of concrete for the foundation.

Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists using Cathedral Oaks Road near Highway 154 are minded to use caution while in the area and to be on the look out for construction vehicles entering or leaving the building site.

The new EOC is designed to more stringent seismic and safety standards due to the nature of the building’s mission to be the county government’s nerve center in the event of a major earthquake or other disaster striking the county. As such, the building’s foundation is as much as three-feet thick and includes additional steel-reinforced bracing embedded in the foundation that is not normally found in new building construction projects.

“We want to thank residents for their patience and understanding as the county moves forward with this very important public safety project that will help serve the public during emergencies for many years in the future,” Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ Chair Janet Wolf said.

The $7.4 million, 11,000-square-foot project is a unique collaboration between county government, the local general contractor Melchiori Construction, and local philanthropic organizations that are funding the project together, saving the county more than $1.6 million in costs that can now be devoted to other much-needed county programs and services. The local “Aware and Prepare” coalition is providing about $2 million to the project while the county is funding the $5.4 million balance through agreements.

County officials wish to thank residents and the motoring public for their cooperation during this temporary phase of construction.