Article 2. Cooperative Highway Construction And Improvement of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 1. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 2.

The board of supervisors of any county may, by a vote of not less than three-fifths of its membership, petition the department to cooperate, under the provisions of this article, in the improvement of an existent highway or the construction of a proposed highway in that county when such existent highway connects, or such proposed highway will connect, a forest highway system road or national park road which is already built or under construction, with any State highway. Such connecting highway shall not exceed fifty miles in length. When any highway sought to be improved or constructed under the provisions of this article is situated in two or more counties, a petition, or concurrence in such a petition, passed by a three-fifths vote of the membership of the board of supervisors of each of such counties is required to initiate the proceeding under this article.

Such petition shall contain:
  (a) A description of the highway proposed to be improved or constructed.
  (b) A statement as to whether the county will supply, at its own expense, such rights of way as are necessary.
  (c) A statement of the funds which such county already has available, or proposes to provide, for such construction.
  (d) Such other information or data as the department requests.

Upon the receipt of such petition, if the department determines that public necessity and convenience will be served thereby, it may cooperate with the petitioning county or counties, in any manner agreeable to all parties, for the purpose of procuring preliminary estimates of the cost of the proposed project. After such preliminary estimates are made and submitted to it, the department may enter into an agreement with any petitioner or with the several petitioners for the purpose of securing detailed surveys, plans, specifications, and estimates of the cost of the proposed project.

All such surveys, plans, specifications, and estimates of cost shall be subject to the approval of the department. Upon such approval, a copy of the petition and approved documents shall be filed with the department, and with the clerk of the board of supervisors and the county recorder of each petitioning county.

Upon such approval the department may enter into a written agreement with any petitioner or with the several petitioners for the improvement or construction of the highway in question. The cost of such improvement or construction shall be prorated between the contracting parties in any agreed proportion.

If the proposed construction or improvement lies wholly within one county, the board of supervisors of the county may designate the county surveyor or any engineer to take charge of the work. If two or more counties are petitioners they shall agree as to the engineer or county surveyor who will take charge of the work and after so agreeing they shall notify the department that they are ready to proceed with the work.

When a written agreement has been entered into as provided in section 794, detailed plans and specifications shall be prepared by the engineer or surveyor named to take charge of the proposed construction or improvement and shall be submitted to the department for its approval. If such plans and specifications meet with the approval of the department it shall so notify the petitioning board or boards of supervisors.

The board shall then proceed to advertise for bids and let the contract for the improvement or construction of such highway after first securing the department's written approval of the proposal submitted by the successful bidder. If the bids for improving or constructing such highway exceed a figure which the department considers reasonable, such bids shall be rejected. In such case the project may be readvertised and if, upon such readvertisement, no satisfactory bid is received the work proposed may, subject to the approval and under the inspection of the department, be undertaken by day labor.

Payment for the work done under this article shall be made in the manner provided by law for the payment of claims against counties. Upon satisfactory evidence being presented to the department that the work done conforms to its requirements, the department shall pay, in the manner provided by law, its pro rata share of the cost of the work as agreed upon. Such payment shall be made out of any funds available to the department for such purposes.