Complete streets projects include pothole and pavement repairs, enhanced sidewalks, raised crosswalks, buffered and separated bike lanes and others.
SAN DIEGO — Two transportation improvement projects in San Diego broke ground on Thursday, designed to improve road safety and the infrastructure across several local communities.
SANDAG Vice Chair and San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava, District 9 Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and community advocates gathered at Teralta Park in City Heights to celebrate the Orange Avenue and Central Avenue Complete Streets projects.
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“SANDAG is delivering projects that benefit San Diego residents above and below ground,” LaCava said. “These are just some of many complete streets projects across the county that improve road safety, expand mobility, upgrade storm drains, replace aging pipes, and make other improvements to make our communities stronger and safer.”
According to SANDAG, complete streets projects include pothole and pavement repairs, enhanced sidewalks, raised crosswalks, buffered and separated bike lanes and other traffic calming measures.
The 2.1-mile Orange Avenue Complete Streets project, expected to open to the public in about a year, will run along Orange Avenue between 32nd Street and Estrella Avenue. It will feature buffered bike lanes, median islands and diverters, a traffic circle, curb extensions and other traffic calming measures.
The Central Avenue Complete Streets project is a mile-long corridor of improvements along Adams Avenue in Kensington and continues along Terrace Drive and Central Avenue to Landis Street. It includes a new section of separated bikeway, a new cul-de-sac, curb extensions, enhanced crosswalks, traffic signal modifications and signs. It is also expected to open to the public in about a year.
Once these projects are completed, they will add over three miles to a larger network of bikeways that connect La Mesa to San Diego neighborhoods including City Heights, Kensington, Normal Heights and North Park.
“For too long, communities like City Heights have had to fight for the safe, reliable infrastructure every neighborhood deserves,” Elo-Rivera said. “Breaking ground on the Orange Avenue and Central Avenue Complete Streets projects means turning that commitment into real improvements that will make it safer and easier for people to walk, bike, drive, take transit, and connect to schools, parks, businesses, and one another. Investments like these bring us closer to a San Diego that truly works for San Diegans.”
During this project development, SANDAG asked for feedback from local businesses, residents, schools and community groups, which was incorporated during the planning, environmental, and design phases.
SANDAG said the $14.5 million Orange Avenue and $7.2 million Central Avenue Complete Streets projects are funded by a combination of federal, state, and local funds. Local funds include TransNet, the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation administered by SANDAG.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published with a cost for the Orange Avenue project of $4.5 million, which was incorrect. It has been updated to show the correct amount of $14.5 million. We apologize for the error.