According to a release sent out by the City, work will begin this week on the Cherry Avenue widening project from 19th St. to PCH in Long Beach, just south of Signal Hill. The lanes on Cherry Ave. will be reduced to one lane traveling in each direction for the next four months. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route, especially during weekdays from 7:00AM to 4:00PM, when construction will be taking place.
Since Cherry Ave. is a major bus route, Long Beach Transit is urging its customers to plan ahead for possible delays due to traffic congestion by taking an earlier bus or finding an alternate route.
The project’s $6.7 million budget is funded in its entirety by the Federal Highway Administration and State Transportation grants received by the City of Signal Hill, according to the release. The project seeks to improve the flow of traffic through the PCH and Cherry Ave. intersection while, at the same time, reducing cut-through traffic in the neighboring residential neighborhoods.
“I’m proud that we are working collaboratively with the City of Signal Hill on this important project,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement. “Not only will it benefit commuters and residents in both cities, it will also improve and beautify our infrastructure.”
According to the release, two new travel lanes will be added from the south of PCH, by 330 ft., to 19th St., as well as a new dual-use lane for southbound traffic going straight on Cherry Ave. or turning right at PCH, in addition to the existing right-turn-only lane. Old concrete paving will be demolished, a new traffic signal will be added along with an improved drainage system for stormwater as well as new asphalt paving. A landscaped center median, for the sake of the City’s beautification, is planned to run along Cherry Ave. from 19th St. to 20th St. but will not be built until the streets have been widened.
The City of Signal Hill has lead the way with this project, as far as funding, planning and construction are all concerned, reads the release. “The project is a great example of our ongoing partnership with the City of Long Beach,” said Signal Hill Mayor Edward Wilson in a statement.
During the Cherry Ave. widening project, the City of Long Beach will continue to work on improvements to Cherry Ave. between Ocean Blvd. and PCH. According to the release, these improvements have also been coordinated with the City of Signal Hill and are expected to be completed, as was planned, in March 2015.
For more information and updates, visit Signal Hill’s website here.
Images provided by the City of Signal Hill.