The completion of the Artesia Great Boulevard Project will be celebrated with a free kick-off event in North Long Beach, complete with family-friendly activities, a ceremonial ribbon cutting and a community bike ride.
“The Artesia Great Boulevard Project is a transformative initiative that not only modernizes and improves safety and accessibility, but also reflects our commitment to building sustainable, equitable and vibrant public spaces for all,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement.
Activities will include a bike rodeo, a mock city course designed for young children and free bike tune-ups courtesy of Pedal Movement. At 10 a.m., Mayor Richardson, Ninth District Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie, Eighth District Councilmember Tunua Thrash-Ntuk and other City leaders will deliver special remarks.
Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to join the Uptown Community Bike Ride at 10:30 a.m., led by the Department of Health and Human Services. This will conclude the City’s Bike Month activities and give residents the chance to ride through the renovated corridor.
The event will also commemorate a new community mural, inspired by the Uptown neighborhood’s annual jazz festival, at the California State Route 91 freeway underpass off of Artesia Boulevard. The mural was funded through a $180,000 Clean California Local Grant.
The Artesia Great Boulevard Project is part of the City’s five-year Elevate ‘28 infrastructure initiative to modernize local parks, facilities and transportation, and aligns with the Safe Streets Long Beach Action Plan. The project has added protected bike lanes and intersections, highly visible crosswalks, roadway asphalt resurfacing and rehabilitated sidewalks to Artesia Boulevard along a 3.2-mile stretch between Harbor and Downey Avenues.
Additional enhancements to improve road conditions and travel experience in the area include enhanced traffic signals, more accessible bus stops and modern pedestrian lighting. Plus, biofiltration catch basins were installed to help reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality and roughly 400 newly planted drought-tolerant trees have been planted in landscaped medians.
“This project isn’t just about repaving a street—it’s about reimagining what’s possible for our community,” said Dr. Ricks-Oddie in a public statement. “We are building a safer, greener, and more connected corridor that prioritizes people—whether they walk, bike, drive or do business here. This milestone reflects years of community advocacy, planning and persistence, and I’m incredibly proud to see it become a reality.”
Construction on the project, managed by the Department of Public Works, began in January 2023 and is expected to be completed this month. This corridor improvement effort received over $40 million in funds from Measure A, the City’s infrastructure fund and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Grants.
The improvements made are in line with the diverse transportation objectives of Complete Streets, which focuses on accommodating all modes of travel. Several Complete Streets projects are part of the Elevate ‘28 focus on revitalizing accessibility and transportation in Long Beach.
“The completion of the Artesia Great Boulevard Project is a shining example of how thoughtful infrastructure can transform a community,” said Eric Lopez, Director of Public Works, in a public statement. “By prioritizing safety, sustainability, and accessibility, we’re not just upgrading a major corridor, we’re enhancing quality of life, supporting active transportation, and building a greener, more connected Long Beach for generations to come.”
The Artesia Great Boulevard Project kick-off will take place Saturday, May 31 at 9 a.m. on Lime Avenue off Artesia Boulevard. To learn more about the Artesia Great Boulevard Project and the community event, visit longbeach.gov/artesiablvdproject.
