Home Public Works Projects and Programs Clark Avenue Complete Street Project: Phase I (Spring Street to Conant Street)

Clark Avenue Complete Street Project: Phase I (Spring Street to Conant Street)

Additional project updates and information will be published on an on-going basis.

Background

The Clark Avenue Complete Street Project is the first in a series of three planned projects that will transform Clark Avenue into a safer, more accessible, and connected corridor.

This initial phase will modernize infrastructure, improve street conditions and enhance safety for people walking, biking, driving, and using transit from Spring Street to Conant Street. Improvements will include full roadway resurfacing, protected bike lanes, new and upgraded ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps, enhanced transit stops, and improved crosswalk visibility and signage.

Following goals outlined in the Safe Streets Long Beach initiative and the Pavement Management Plan (PMP), and informed by the Complete Streets model, this project advances the City’s commitment to a safer, more accessible, and equitable multimodal street network.

Clark Avenue Complete Street: Phase II, a separate project, implements improvements from Spring Street south to Anaheim Street. Learn more at lbcity.info/clarkaveproject2.

Together, these coordinated projects will reimagine Clark Avenue as a safer, more connected corridor supporting Long Beach’s broader goals for accessibility, mobility, and neighborhood livability.

This project is part of the Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, a historic initiative dedicated to enhancing Long Beach parks, community facilities, mobility access, and streets. Learn more at lbelevate28.com.

Timeline

Begin Construction September 2025
End Construction Spring 2026

Project timeline is set barring weather delays and other unforeseen circumstances.

Objectives

  • Enhance safety for all roadway users by reducing conflicts between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians
  • Improve accessibility
  • Support multimodal travel options
  • Improve road surface quality
  • Improve access to public transit

Project Features

 

  • Pavement and Infrastructure Improvements

    • Full roadway resurfacing to improve durability and driving conditions.
    • Reconstruction of curbs and gutters to address drainage issues and reduce ponding.
    • Reconstruction of curb ramps and sidewalks to meet ADA standards and improve pedestrian safety.
    • Installation of new sidewalks and ramps where they do not currently exist.
    • New traffic striping and lane markings for improved visibility.

  • Multimodal Safety Enhancements

    • Physically Separated Bikeways (Class IV):
      • New bike lanes in both directions will offer cyclists a dedicated, physically separated travel path.
      • New green bike legends and green bike conflict area striping for greater visibility.
      • To accommodate the new protected bikeways, the outermost (#3) vehicle lane will be permanently removed in both directions. Approximately 400 feet of on-street parking will also be permanently removed adjacent to Rosie the Riveter Park. Currently, Clark Avenue widens from two to three lanes in each direction between Wardlow Road and Monlaco Road. Removing the third lane will maintain a consistent lane configuration, helping to reduce traffic speeds and lower the risk of collisions along the corridor.
    • New Pedestrian Crossings and Safety Islands:
      • Continental crosswalks at Spring Street, Mezzanine Way, Wardlow Road, and Monlaco Road for increased visibility
      • New mid-block crossings with refuge islands at Mezzanine Way and Monlaco Road that provide safer access to transit stops.
      • Replacement of faded or damaged street signage with highly visible new signs.

  • Transit Upgrades

    • Installation of transit amenities, including new bus platforms and shelters are planned at:
      • Spring Street (northbound side of Clark Avenue)
      • Mezzanine Way (northbound and southbound)
      • Wardlow Road (northbound and southbound)
      • Monlaco Road (northbound and southbound)

Project Funding

The project is funded by Metro Measure M and Prop A.

More Information

Project Updates

April 2026

Work on the project continues to move forward.

All remaining concrete improvements behind the curb face were completed in April, except the sidewalk connection between Fire Station 19 and Rosie the Riveter Park. This remaining portion of sidewalk is under construction and will be completed in early May. Street resurfacing was also finalized at the end of April, and utilities within the roadway have been adjusted to final grade. Traffic has largely been restored to two lanes of in each direction, with intermittent lane closures planned for the installation of new pedestrian median islands and bike lane separators. These improvements are not expected to require long-term lane closures.

In mid-May, installation of the final traffic-related features will begin. This work will include new signage, pavement striping, enhanced crosswalks, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the intersections of Mezzanine Way and Monlaco Road. Completion of these enhancements are scheduled to be for the end of May.

The project is approaching completion, with work expected to conclude by the end of May 2026.

March 2026

Construction on Clark Avenue continues to progress.

Last month, traffic shifted to the west side of the road to allow concrete work on the east side to be completed. All concrete work on the east side of Clark Ave (northbound direction), except for the curb ramp at the northeast corner of Clark Ave and Wardlow Rd, is now complete. This includes curbs, gutters, cross gutters, curb ramps, sidewalk, and bus boarding islands.

Beginning Monday, March 16, 2026, traffic will be shifted to the east side of the road so that concrete work on the west side of the road can be completed. Completed items on the west side include curbs, gutters, curb ramps, culvert bypasses for bus boarding islands, and sidewalk. Remaining work includes bus boarding islands, the Fire Station 19 driveway, miscellaneous sidewalks, and the westerly curb ramps at the intersections of Spring Street and Wardlow Road.

Concrete improvements are scheduled for completion in the first full week of April. Pavement resurfacing will follow, with cold milling scheduled to begin on April 13, 2026. Once the resurfacing is complete, protected bike lanes will be constructed followed by all traffic striping, safety improvements, and project completion in May

February 2026

Construction efforts are progressing. All curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements have been completed outside of all bus boarding island areas. New sidewalk on the west side of Clark Avenue now connects Spring Street to Mezzanine Way and Wardlow Road to Fire Station 19. New curb ramps have also been installed at Monlaco Road, Mezzanine Way, and the northeast corner of Spring Street and Clark Avenue.

All culvert bypasses designed to improved stormwater drainage for the bus boarding islands have been completed. On the east side of Clark Avenue, the bus shelter pads for stronger surfaces and sidewalk behind the new bus boarding islands are now in place.

The street and bus shelter pads, bus boarding islands, and remaining sidewalk are scheduled for construction in late February or early March. Replacement of Fire Station 19’s driveway and construction of the final sidewalk segment connecting the fire station to Rosie the Riveter Park is scheduled for March. Construction timelines are set barring weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Due to the rain over the past few months, the overall construction schedule has been extended to late March or early April.
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