DeLong Delivers Update on PCH Widening

Addressing resident concerns about the disruption caused by construction work being done on a key street, Long Beach City Councilman Gary DeLong issued a memo reassuring his constituents.

"For the last several months construction activity has been occurring at the intersection of 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Hwy, which has significantly impacted traffic flow at this location," DeLong wrote in a memorandum released to the public.

"Because the work occurs at night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. -- to minimize the impact on the intersection and the surrounding businesses -- it is not apparent to residents that there is any activity occurring."

The purpose of the construction is to expand the intersection by adding a dedicated right hand turn lane from PCH south to Second Street West (toward Naples and Belmont Shore).

There is also a second left-hand turn lane from PCH south to 2nd Street east (toward Seal Beach). When the project is finished, traffic flow will be significantly improved at this intersection.

The current disruptions, conceded DeLong, "has caused a great deal of frustration."

According to DeLong, if construction occurred during the day, the impact would be worse.

"The first phase of the project has been very difficult. This phase includes reconfiguring the existing parking lots, upgrading fire suppression systems, relocating service meters, and upgrading lighting."

The contractor also has been moving a significant number of underground utilities as well as designing a new storm-drain system, DeLong said.

The matter is complicated by the fact that the contractor has unearthed old pipes and old utility lines that must be checked to determine if they are usable or must be diverted, he said.

"Some of these pipes are almost 100 years old as this land was once part of an old oil field," DeLong said.

The second phase of the project will involve crews from Southern California Edison and Verizon, who will take their lines out of the new roadway in order to accommodate a new storm drain system, the councilman said.

During the second phase, traffic lanes will be closed intermittently, as the work progresses, so as not to hamper construction.

"These lane closures will be kept to a minimum," DeLong said.

The third and final phase of the project will involve relocating street lights and traffic signal equipment, constructing the new storm drain system, and installing new curbs, sidewalks and roadway pavement, DeLong said.

"The City will work with CalTrans to keep disruptions to a minimum," he said.

The contractor is scheduled to finish Phase 1 no later than September 15th. When this portion is finished, the lane that is currently closed will be restored for use.  However, it will take several more months of construction before the additional lanes are added, DeLong said.