If you've driven through Pismo Beach recently, you may have seen the cones, workers or experienced traffic backups. It's all part of a plan aimed to ease traffic in the long run.
The project is called the Five Cities Multimodal Transportation Network Enhancement Project
The $85 million Highway 101 project is made up of three parts: a park-and-ride lot, a shared-use path along Shell Beach Road, and a five-mile lane between Avila Beach Drive and Price Canyon Road.
Once complete, the third lane would be open daily from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The project is a collaboration between the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, the City of Pismo Beach, and Caltrans.
KSBY last spoke with SLOCOG's transportation planner, Stephen Hanamaikai, in April. Four months later, he says the project is still in its early stages.
"I believe there's five stages, so we're still in stage one prepping for stage three, actually, which is what you're seeing on 101 right now," Hanamaikai said.
According to Hanamaikai, some of the work crews have been doing includes building a retaining wall along Price Street. The wall is necessary to help make room for the third traffic lane, while also not disturbing a culturally sensitive rock formation located in the area.
"The next stage of construction will be on 101, so they'll be working on bridges through Pismo Beach. A lot of those over crossings and under crossings at Spyglass Road, at Mattie Road, and at Wadsworth Avenue," Hanamaikai said.
As for the work currently visible in the middle of Highway 101, it's a protective barrier to keep crews safe for future work that's needed.
For commuters, San Luis Obispo County District 3 Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg asks for patience.
"I would say that I appreciate everybody's patience, but I think that the little bit of pain that we're going through right now will be beneficial overall for our region," Ortiz-Legg said.
