San Luis Obispo’s Higuera Complete Streets project is set to get underway about one week later than originally planned, as the city finalizes preparations with contractors. Construction is now expected to begin Aug. 31.
The project was approved by City Council in February. San Luis Obispo Public Works Department Transportation Manager Luke Schwartz said the early phase of work will be relatively low-impact.
“At first, the work might not be major. You’ll maybe see some underground utility locating, some potholing, so that anywhere where they’re digging, they know they’re not going to hit something important,” Schwartz said.
From there, curb ramp improvements will be carried out for a couple of months, starting on South Higuera Street near Los Osos Valley Road. Crews will then move north along Higuera toward Marsh Street.
Other key improvements include upgraded traffic signals, stronger transit connections, and increased visibility for bike lanes. The majority of the work is aimed at improving road safety.
“It also includes fixing potholes and bringing the pavement up to a high quality, so that it’s smooth for people driving, walking, bicycling, and riding transit,” Schwartz said.
The entire project could take up to a year to complete. Schwartz noted that timeline includes wait times for equipment, and work will move up Higuera Street in phases. The city expects all work to be completed by spring of next year.
During active construction, people in the area should expect loud noise, potential odors, road closures, and detours.
Despite the disruptions, businesses like Joebella Coffee along Higuera Street say they plan to remain open throughout the construction period.
“We know that construction can kind of be a bummer sometimes, but we also know that it’s important to invest into the community,” said Isabella Steffenauer, managing and operating owner of Joebella’s location in San Luis Obispo.
She added that customers should not expect any interruption to service at the coffee shop.
“We’ll still be here, we’re still hoping to see your amazing faces and offer you some great coffee,” Steffenauer said.
The Higuera Complete Streets project is funded by $15.5 million, $9 million of which was secured through state and regional grants.
Residents can sign up for weekly construction updates through the city’s SLO in Motion program online.