More than $13 million for capital improvements was approved on Tuesday night by the Santa Clarita City Council for three major projects to improve community aesthetics, ease traffic congestion and increase local property values.

The funded projects include the Newhall Roundabout project, Sand Canyon/State Route 14 Gateway Beautification Project, and McBean Parkway Bridge Widening.  All projects are scheduled to break ground this summer.

“Each year the Santa Clarita City Council adopts a capital improvement plan that identifies and prioritizes projects that add value to the community and enhance quality of life,” said Mayor Bob Kellar. “Our goal is to position Santa Clarita for prosperity, now and in the future, and we are doing that by supporting a strong local economy, building and enhancing our infrastructure and providing services that meet the needs of our community.”

The Newhall Roundabout project represents a $2.2 million capital improvement effort to reconfigure traffic flow to make the area more pedestrian friendly and provide a southern gateway to Old Town Newhall. The project will remove the existing signal at the intersection of 5th Street and Newhall Avenue and replace it with a modern roundabout inclusive of an iconic art piece. Construction is set to begin in late July 2013 and scheduled to be complete by February 2014.

In August 2013, the City will begin construction in the Canyon Country area as part of the $2.1 million State Route 14/ Sand Canyon Road Gateway Beautification Project. The project is designed to improve 3.4 acres with environmentally-friendly landscaping and a water efficient irrigation system.

Construction of the McBean Parkway Bridge Widening over the Santa Clara River is also scheduled to begin in August.  The $9.1 million project will improve traffic congestion and provide a direct connection between segments of the Santa Clara Trail, along with a new 16 foot-wide trail on the bridge.  Additionally, McBean Parkway from Avenue Scott to Magic Mountain Parkway will be repaved and a landscaped median will be added from Avenue Scott to Creekside Road.  The project is anticipated to be complete by early 2015.

Santa Clarita’s approved budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 is $180.6 million, with $40.1 million devoted to various capital improvement projects.

For more information about these and other upcoming projects, visit Santa-Clarita.com.