Update: Concord Archway Project Changes Direction

City of Concord engineers changed direction Tuesday on the design for two new archways that will be installed in Todos Santos Plaza.

Project Manager Mario Camorongan met with a committee of City Councilmembers last night to discuss the final touches on the project. Councilmembers told him they wanted to add a second visual element to the arches.

“When you’re outside of Todos Santos Plaza looking in, the sign on the arches will read ‘Todos Santos Plaza,'” Camorongan told Patch. “When you’re inside the park, the sign will read ‘City of Concord,’ he said.   

Given that the sign will be composed of welded tubular steel, the new visual element will require the placement of a backing in between the two phrases. The signs will be illuminated to make them readable at night, he said.  They will be installed on Willow Pass Road, one at the corner of Mt. Diablo Street and one on the corner of Grant Street.

Camorongan is sending the artists renderings back to the design consultant for revision and engaging an electrical consultant in discussions about the lighting. 

The changes to the design will add an additional month to the Concord Archway Project’s timeline, pushing out the installation date to mid March 2014.

The committee of Councilmembers working on the archway project is composed of Councilmembers Ron Leone and former mayor Dan Helix.  New Mayor Tim Grayson was on the original committee that proposed the project to city engineers back in January 2013. He traded places with Helix.  

City Council will have the final say on project approval. To see artists renderings of the new archways, visit Patch's previous coverage.