Construction crews are back on Carlsbad Boulevard, replacing aging beach stairs and narrowing traffic to one lane in each direction between Pine and Tamarack avenues.
The work resumed Tuesday, Sept. 8, after a planned summer pause, according to the city's project page. The city halted construction from Memorial Day through Labor Day so residents and visitors could use the coastline without disruption.
What's closed, what's open
Crews will first finish installing new stairs and railings at Cherry and Hemlock avenues, then move to demolish and rebuild stairs at Maple and Sycamore avenues later this fall, according to Patch.
The Cherry and Hemlock stairways are closed during this phase. Beachgoers can still reach the sand via the ramps at Pine and Tamarack avenues and the stairways at Maple and Sycamore. The city said at least two stairways between Tamarack and Pine will stay open at all times. The grass area south of Hemlock Avenue also remains open.
Traffic and sidewalk impacts
Drivers should expect one lane in each direction through the work zone, with the speed limit dropped to 20 mph. Portions of the upper sidewalk on the west side of the boulevard will close at times. The city is directing walkers and joggers to the lower sea wall or the sidewalk on the east side.
Some street parking will be restricted. Bike lanes will stay open. Occasional detours are possible.
Construction runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding federal holidays.
Why the project exists
The four stairways and the sidewalk between Cherry and Pine avenues date to the 1980s. Decades of salt air and coastal weather broke down the concrete, exposing reinforcing steel and causing corrosion and soil erosion around portions of the foundations, according to city records.
The project replaces all four stairways and widens the sidewalk between Cherry and Pine by two and a half feet. The city expects the new infrastructure to last about 50 years.
City Manager Geoff Patnoe said in an April 16 update that crews discovered Cherry Avenue's stairway needed extra work to reinforce platform supports, pushing that stairway's reopening past summer. The wider sidewalk between Pine and Tamarack opened ahead of Memorial Day, according to a May 21 city update.
The Carlsbad Planning Commission approved a Coastal Development Permit for the project on July 19, 2023. The City Council approved plans and authorized bids on Nov. 19, 2024.
What's next
The project remains on schedule for completion by summer 2027. Work will pause again next year from Memorial Day to Labor Day, then resume for a final push.
The city is also designing a separate project to improve ADA beach access near Pine and Tamarack avenues. Residents can track construction updates on the city's beach access project page.
