The city is working on a project is to make necessary repairs and upgrades to the stairs and walkway on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard between Pine Avenue and Hemlock Avenue. The project includes structural repairs and improvements to the concrete sidewalks, retaining walls and beach access stairways located along Carlsbad Boulevard. These existing features would be replaced with like materials and designs, with the exception of the walkway, which would be widened to better accommodate the large number of walkers, runners, joggers and other users.

The sidewalks and stairways were built in the 1980s. The sidewalk between Pine Avenue and Maple Avenue is elevated and cantilevered over the bluff. There are four stairways to the lower sea wall within the project area. Repairs are needed due to deterioration of the sidewalk structure, exposed and rusted steel reinforcements, cracked and broken concrete, and rusting of stairway components.

Overall, the repairs and additional work for improved access, mobility and aesthetics include:

• Widening the upper sidewalk westward, with a further foot of cantilever over the bluffs for more space to walk
• Removing the metal beam and timber post guardrail on the east side of the sidewalk to gain a foot of additional sidewalk space
• Replacing existing streetlights with light fixtures on double-masts (i.e., one east and one west), to improve street and the sidewalk lighting.
• Extending the lower sidewalk’s eastern retaining walls a short distance to help maintain the slope at the base of the stairways
• Replacing four sets of stairs from the upper sidewalk to the lower sea wall
• Replacing the upper sidewalk platforms

Safety along Carlsbad Boulevard

As the city implements the policies in the General Plan Mobility Element, approved by the City Council in 2015, safety along Carlsbad Boulevard is a top priority. In the same area as the beach access project, the following changes have been made or are planned:

• Improved crosswalks, with curb extensions to shorten walking distance, center medians to provide a place for pedestrians to stop if needed, and flashing lights to alert drivers when pedestrians are present.
• Creating buffered bike lanes .
• Slowing down traffic through restriping lanes and installing curb extensions.

These changes work together to promote safer behavior among all road users.

Guardrail considerations

While it may seem counterintuitive to remove a guardrail in an area where we are making safety improvements, there are several reasons why this design is preferred:

• The AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, which is used by transportation planners to determine recommended street designs and features based on several factors, including location, traffic, speeds and visibility, does not require a guardrail .
• The existing guardrail was installed decades ago when Carlsbad Boulevard served as the pacific coast highway with high speeds prior to the construction of Interstate 5.
• Removing the guardrail will provide another foot of space to the walkway, which is one of the most heavily used walkways in the region.
• Removing the guardrail will make this segment of Carlsbad Boulevard consistent with other similar segments. 

Click on map to enlarge

July 19, 2023 | Planning Commission
Approved a Coastal Development Permit and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the beach access repairs project. 

May 16, 2023 | City Council
Adopted a resolution authorizing the execution of a right of entry permit with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to maintain the upper picnic facilities at Tamarack State Beach and the coastal bluff at Tamarack/Frazee State Beach, and to reimburse the state for plan reviews of two Capital Improvement Program projects that impact state property: Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades from Pine to Tamarack Avenues, and Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue Intersection Improvements.

May 9, 2023 | City Council
Adopted a resolution approving an amendment to the professional services agreement with GHD Inc., for additional engineering design and environmental permitting services for the Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue Project, increasing the not to exceed amount by $189,935 and extending the term by three years. 

Nov. 15, 2022 | City Council
Adopted a resolution authorizing an amendment to the existing right-of-entry permit with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to include reimbursement, up to an amount of $40,000, for plan reviews for the Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue.

Feb. 4, 2021 | City Council
Reviewed Fiscal Year 2021-22 department priorities and capacity updates, including Carlsbad Boulevard beach access repairs from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue, during the City Council Goals Workshop – Department Priorities and Capacity Update.

Oct. 5, 2020 | Traffic and Mobility Commission
Received a presentation and provided feedback on staff’s approach to implementing the design of the Beach Access Repairs and Improvements Project.

April 21, 2020 | City Council
Adopted a Resolution approving Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with GHD for professional engineering services for the Beach Access Repairs from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue.

Jan. 9, 2018 | City Council
Adopted a resolution approving a professional services agreement for the preparation of construction plans, specifications, cost estimates and environmental permits with GHD, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $500,000 for Carlsbad Boulevard beach access repairs from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue.

Where are we in the project timeline?
Engineering design, technical studies and permitting are underway. The city is in ongoing coordination with State Parks regarding the project construction and future operating and maintenance activities. Parts of the proposed improvements are located within the State Parks’ property, which requires review and approval from State Parks.

When is construction anticipated?
The city will notify the community when there’s a construction schedule and work is anticipated to begin. 

How will we get to the beach?
To ensure beach access during construction, repairs will be completed in phases. 

I live in the area. How will I be impacted?
The project will be constructed in phases. The contractor’s equipment will be stored in a construction staging area nearby which supports the use of the equipment during construction.  Traffic control will be in place with signage to provide safe traffic flow during construction. 

What other projects are happening in the area?
Carlsbad Boulevard pedestrian improvements 
Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue intersection improvements