Committee approves SFPUC emergency declaration for Hetch Hetchy and Cherry Lake road repairs totaling $20M

The Budget and Finance Committee voted to forward with clarifying amendments an SFPUC emergency declaration that authorizes up to $20,000,000 to repair road failures on Cherry Lake Road and Hetch Hetchy Road following above‑normal precipitation and storm damage. SFPUC presenters described record‑high precipitation in early 2023, locations of damage in the watershed access roads, and the need to maintain access to critical water and power infrastructure.

SFPUC staff said they issued an RFQ and received two bids for the emergency construction contract. They selected Sierra Mountain Construction for about $11.5 million (engineer’s estimate $14 million); additional rehabilitation needs, pavement restoration (an estimated four miles, ~$4.4 million) and contingency push the total additional estimate to approximately $8.5 million for a combined $20 million request. SFPUC said it has used or will use about $8.4 million in existing contract capacity and has submitted damage claims to FEMA for potential reimbursement (historically 60–75% reimbursement on similar work). Funding comes from SFPUC enterprise capital project funds.

Supervisors asked about which projects would be reprioritized and SFPUC said smaller paving and rehabilitation projects would be delayed and that capital budgets will request replacement funding; members requested a list of projects affected. The committee approved the clarifying amendments and forwarded the resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation.