This road is closed for months in Clovis. Here’s what’s happening and why there was a delay

Earlier this month, the city of Clovis shut down a section of Nees Avenue for an infrastructure project to widen the street to four lanes along with placing utilities under the road.

Work was slated to be done in phases, with the first happening during the winter break for Clovis Unified School District, as the project sits adjacent to Buchanan High School. The second phase would have run through March.

Then the rain came.

The city now says that Nees will remain closed between Clovis and Minnewawa avenues until the project is completed. Drivers can find alternative routes through the area to the south at Alluvial or north at Teague.

The road is expected to fully reopen by the end of May, Clovis communications director Chad McCollum told The Bee on Tuesday.

While recent storms delayed the initial phase of the project, the city is also working with entities such as PG&E, AT&T and Comcast — and all experienced timeline delays of their own, McCollum said.

Additionally, there were safety concerns coming from the public and workers regarding loose soil found in the area.

While the footprint of the project (part of The Well church’s expansion in Clovis) may seem small, it requires placing the overhead electric and other utilities underground, along with the installation of a 20-foot-deep sewer main, water services, storm drain facilitates and working with the Fresno Irrigation District on a pipeline crossing.

The city recognizes there is an inconvenience to drivers and residents in the area, but says the result will be worth it, especially for those with students at Buchanan Educational Center.

The new roadway should double capacity into and out of the schools there.

And, as McCollum said: “It will be done before you know it.”

This story was originally published January 24, 2023 at 3:01 PM.