Construction began along a busy stretch of Carson Street on Jan. 19, kicking-off a public project aimed at improving safety and accessibility for both drivers and pedestrians.
According to a public statement by Councilmember Megan Kerr, residents should expect traffic along Carson Street to be heavily impacted by construction from Orange Avenue to the city limit near Cherry Avenue. The Carson Street Complete Street Project is expected to finish by May 15.
The Carson Street Complete Street Project is part of the City’s broader Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, which aims to improve streets, parks, community facilities and transportation access across Long Beach leading up to the 2028 Olympic games. Funding for this project comes from a combination of state gas tax revenues and local transportation measures, including Metro Measure M and Propositions A and C.
The following changes and improvements will be made as part of the Carson Street Complete Street Project:
- The roadway will be resurfaced with rubberized asphalt to create a smoother driving surface and extend pavement life.
- Traffic lanes and markings will be re-striped to improve visibility and organization along the corridor.
- New Class II bike lanes will be added in both directions without removing existing vehicle lanes.
- Sidewalks and curb ramps will be rebuilt where needed to meet legal accessibility standards.
- Curbs and gutters will be repaired to improve drainage and reduce standing water.
- High-visibility crosswalks will be installed at Orange, Cherry, Gundry and Walnut avenues.
- Medians will be added at Gundry and Walnut avenues to improve safety for pedestrians crossing the street.
- Left turns from Gundry Avenue onto Carson Street will be restricted to reduce traffic conflicts.
- Bus stops will receive accessibility upgrades, including new concrete bus stop pads.
- A new sheltered bus stop will be installed at the northeast corner of Carson Street and Cherry Avenue.
- Seven trees will be removed due to health concerns or root-related infrastructure issues.
To learn more about the Carson Street Complete Street Project, visit the City’s project webpage.
