MONTEREY COUNTY — The southbound Highway 101 Camp Roberts Safety Roadside Rest Area reopened to the public on Tuesday following an extensive renovation of the facility.
Upgrades included a complete replacement of the wastewater treatment system to improve operational efficiency and to protect groundwater quality, as well as major upgrades to the electrical system to support new more energy efficient equipment.
The Electric Vehicle Charge Station will remain off-line pending delivery and installation of a new cell signal power module. However, upgrades to the solar powered EV station have also been made, including the addition of a second Level 2 Charger.
The northbound Camp Roberts Safety Roadside Rest Area will remain closed pending completion of similar renovations delayed by material deliveries. No date is confirmed yet for reopening of the northbound facility.
The southbound renovation project replaced deteriorating concrete septic tanks with larger fiberglass tanks, added equalization tanks that provide buffer during peak use, added media filters, new piping and expanded and improved leach field capacity.
The project also added a new automated infrastructure monitoring system. This will allow maintenance crews to track water, wastewater and electrical system operations more efficiently and to stay ahead of issues and allow for a variety of adjustments to be made remotely. These upgrades are designed to keep the rest areas open on a more consistent basis.
Landscaping renovations included downsizing lawn areas and upgrades to the “smart” irrigation system to support water conservation. New shade shelters have also been added to the picnic tables.
Work began on this project in May 2021. Significant delays in material availability and fabrication of customized equipment, such as fiberglass tanks and electrical switchgear, have contributed to the lengthy construction closure.
The contractor for this $4.2 million construction project was Newton Construction and Management of San Luis Obispo.
