Construction Set to Begin on Avila Beach Drive Roundabout Project
Author: Public Works
Date: 4/30/2024 3:36 PM
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 26 for the Avila Beach Drive Roundabout Project.
The roundabout will ease traffic delays at the intersection of Avila Beach Drive and Highway 101, which currently experiences significant traffic congestion, especially during weekends.
“We’re proud to be constructing the first roundabout on a county road. There’s no better location than right here to demonstrate the safety benefits and efficiency of a modern roundabout,” said SLO County Public Works Deputy Director John Waddell.
District 3 Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg added that the project will enhance the intersection for use by constituents whether they are hiking, biking, or in their vehicle. "What we’re going to have here is going to enormously improve and change this area of Highway 101 and the Avila Beach intersection in a way that is going to be so transformational," she said.
The $13.8 million project will consist of three main components: a single-lane roundabout at the southbound ramp intersection, traffic-calming improvements to the northbound off-ramp, and a new Park-and-Ride lot with a transit stop for RTA buses and the Avila Trolley.
Additionally, the project will incorporate improvements to multimodal access and safety including sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes. Included in these improvements is the construction of a shared-use path which will allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely bypass the roundabout.
The roundabout project is managed by SLO County Public Works with Caltrans and the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) as strategic partners. It’s anticipated the project will take 20 months to complete.
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