Island J Complex Roadways
Retrofit Project Restores Old World Charm and Mitigates Flooding with Commercial Grade Cambridge Cobble® Pavers
Every Project Starts with a Purpose
Foster City is a community that was quite literally constructed from the ground up over 60 years ago. An engineering feat at the time, the developers purchased a four-square-mile patch of sea-level mud flats in San Francisco Bay. They raised the elevation of the entire island four to five feet by pumping 14 million cubic yards of sand from the bay onto the island, which took six years to accomplish. The city’s residential complex of Island J featured Greek architecture accented by picturesque cobblestone streets that had eroded over time and been patched in sections with concrete or asphalt.
In addition to making the streets bumpy and unsightly, the patchwork repairs had created a draining situation that had water pooling in residents’ yards for weeks after heavy rains. The Island J HOA needed a cost-effective solution for completely replacing the streets that would be aesthetically pleasing, address the drainage issues and handle heavy vehicular loads. “Residents have always asked if we could return to pavers instead of asphalt, but all previous estimates we received just put that dream out of reach,” explained Bart Besseling, Island J HOA president.
The Solution
Solving for Style, Function, and Durability
The HOA initially planned to resurface the streets with asphalt and spent 10 years saving for the project. When seeking bids, one of the companies contacted was Modern Paving. Although the firm does not typically work on asphalt, Vice President David Tetrault reviewed the project parameters and provided an estimate using pavers instead.
“After talking to him, we were surprised and thrilled to find out we actually could afford to restore the beautiful look of pavers to the community for about what we’d saved for the asphalt,” said Besseling.
Tetrault began sourcing a cobbled paver with the required commercial thickness to handle vehicular loads. While the 80mm thickness of Belgard Cambridge Cobble® was a special order, Belgard was able to manufacture the pavers faster than other bidders, which proved critical to the project timeline.
The HOA selected the Toscana color to complement the community’s bright white, blue and yellow buildings. “The homes are the equity, so we didn’t want to draw attention away from them, but rather blend nicely with them,” Besseling explained.
To address structural considerations, Tetrault recommended installing geotextile fabric between the soil and the paver system to keep the pavement independent of subsurface conditions. Modern Paving also regraded the slope to resolve drainage issues.
To minimize disruption for residents, Modern Paving and the HOA coordinated a phased installation plan. Work was completed in short street segments, including one parking lot at a time, and scheduled during daytime work hours. Even USPS mail delivery was temporarily shifted to after 5:00 p.m. to maintain access and convenience for residents.
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The Result
A Lasting Impression:
The Final Transformation
With more than half the installation complete, the new roads already look better, provide improved drainage and enhance resident safety. “The asphalt roads felt like a freeway, so people drove at freeway speeds,” explained Besseling. “We have a lot of elderly residents and young families, and kids play in the streets. Pavers naturally slow traffic.”
The project also delivers a strong return on investment through increased property values. “Having new, sturdy and good-looking roads increased the equity of the entire HOA, which will positively impact the value of each unit,” said Bart Besseling, Island J HOA president.
Future Island J HOA boards will also face lower maintenance costs. “With the engineering behind pavers, they’ll never have to replace the entire roadway again,” said Tetrault. “If you look at the roads the Romans built, they’re still there—and these will be, too.” Island J now has a road system that reflects its timeless beauty and delivers lasting benefits to residents.
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