Construction will soon begin on improvements along Ocean Boulevard. The project will improve pedestrian access and mobility on the sidewalk along the ocean side of the boulevard. The current sidewalk width is very small. Add open car doors, people unloading beach gear, walkers, runners, cyclists, strollers, and dogs on leashes and it gets tight. Last fall, city council approved a design after considering various options.
Residents and those driving in the area can expect traffic impacts as the project progresses, including parking restrictions on both sides of the street and lane closures during off-hours. especially during road repairs when traffic is likely to be reduced to one lane in both directions. Traffic control is subject to change daily. The public should therefore exercise caution when traveling through the area and expect delays.
The City will inform the community of the work and impacts once the contractor’s schedule is established. Construction is expected to begin within the next four weeks.
The approved design includes widening the sidewalk to provide a minimum of 8 feet of clear space for pedestrians. This will mean moving trash cans, benches and some streetlights out of the way. The project includes new asphalt on Ocean Boulevard from Ocean Drive to the Flora Avenue crosswalk. Design features include curb bulbs on the west side of Ocean Boulevard that will allow pedestrians to be better seen by motorists as they cross the street without losing on-street parking.
In keeping with the city’s active transportation plan, pavement strip improvements along Ocean Boulevard will include highly visible ladder-style crosswalks to replace traditional two-lane crosswalks and “share the lane” pavement stencils. route”, or sharows, in both traffic lanes to remind drivers that cyclists can use the entire traffic lane.
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