The promenade railing along the First Street was recently replaced with the help of Measure C funds. The city will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony in January. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

The city of Benicia will be hosting a ribbon cutting for the newly installed promenade railing at the foot of First Street in January.

The replacement of the waterfront promenade railing overlooking the Carquinez Strait was one of 16 projects to be funded by Measure C, a revenue initiative that set aside $4 million for projects that would improve the quality of life for Benicians. The measure was approved by citizens in 2014.

More than $273,000 was set aside to improve the railing, which Mario Giuliani, Benicia’s economic development manager, said was one of the first projects to be proposed through Measure C.

“At the time, we had hoped it would be the first project completed, but it took a little while longer” he said. “We’re definitely excited to have it done.”

Giuliani said he wasn’t entirely sure when the previous railing had been installed but estimated that it was more than 20 years ago. He said the railing was in rather poor condition a few years ago.

“It had officially rusted through,” Giuliani said. “It was deteriorating and falling apart.”

Construction began over the summer, and the fencing was taken down shortly before the tree lighting ceremony in December. The new railing has since been installed.

Now that the project has been completed, a ribbon cutting will take place at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11 at the foot of First Street. Elected and city officials, including Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and members of the City Council, will be in attendance.

Other completed Measure C projects include the replacement of police vehicle cameras, remodeling the playground at Benicia Community Park and repairing 250 damaged sections of roads throughout the city. Projects scheduled to be completed in 2017 include replacing the police and fire departments’ computer dispatch and record management system, improving Southampton Road and Hastings Drive as well as constructing safety crossing improvements for Benicia Middle School, providing paving for Industrial Way, repairing sidewalks in the downtown commercial district, repairing the pool deck and restrooms at James Lemos Pool and more.

For more information, ci.benicia.ca.us/measurec.

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