Construction starting on new crossings at the beach

Islands at the beach? Yes, but these islands aren’t in the water, but along Carlsbad Boulevard.

 

Beginning today, construction crews will pour concrete for new “pedestrian islands,” which are raised medians along Carlsbad Boulevard to make it easier for people to go to and from the beach.

 

The work began last Friday and should be complete just in time for the Memorial Day weekend and the traditional start of summer.

 

Vehicle traffic on Carlsbad Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the day while construction work is under way. All the lanes will be open in the evening.

 

The islands are part of a program to install high-visibility crosswalks at six intersections between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue — Oak, Pine, Sycamore, Maple, Cherry and Hemlock avenues.

 

Five of the intersections — all except Pine — will receive the pedestrian islands in the center of Carlsbad Boulevard, giving pedestrians a place in the middle of the road where they can stop halfway across. The city also will install warning signs.

 

The sixth location, Pine Avenue, has a traffic signal, so improvements will include installation of a high-visibility crosswalk.

 

Other changes include allowing traffic to only turn right, or northbound, when exiting Oak, Sycamore, Maple, Cherry and Hemlock onto Carlsbad Boulevard, and placing crosswalks on the south side of the intersections, to prevent pedestrians from crossing in front of vehicles making those turns. The pedestrian safety improvements are evenly spaced so that every other intersection will have a crosswalk and median island, and the adjacent intersection on either side will allow full access for motorists.

 

The improvements are part of Carlsbad’s “livable streets” concept, which acknowledges that streets are an important part of the livability of today's communities and ought to be for everyone, whether traveling by car, bike or on foot.  Watch a video about livable streets.

 

“There’s a growing realization that streets should be designed for people, not just cars,” said Bryan Jones, Carlsbad’s deputy transportation director. “Livable streets are about making streets welcoming and inviting for everybody, whether you ride a bicycle, walk on the sidewalk or drive a vehicle. And they enhance the safety for everybody on the street.”

 

The city awarded a contract in the amount of $44,000 to Portillo Concrete Inc. to make the improvements. The city’s Construction Management & Inspection staff will direct the project. 

 

Bryan Jones, deputy director, City of Carlsbad Transportation Department, 760-602-2431, or bryan.jones@carlsbadca.gov

Kristina Ray, 760-434-2957, kristina.ray@carlsbadca.gov