The City of Newport Beach is temporarily altering the traffic lane configuration on East Coast Highway near MacArthur Boulevard as a test to determine how the change impacts the flow of traffic. The trial period is coming to an end and our Public Works Department has compiled all the data collected from July through mid-October to prepare for the October 23 City Council meeting. The staff report and recommendation will be posted on the City Council Agenda and Minutes web page when it becomes available.
The trial project will consist of eliminating one southbound traffic lane on Coast Highway through the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard. There will be a transition in the southbound direction from three lanes at Avocado Avenue to two lanes at Begonia Avenue. The roadway will then consist of two lanes south of Begonia Avenue. 
The Corona del Mar Business Improvement District (BID) Board of Directors has agreed to pay for the lane reduction trial project. The BID supports a proposed plan for entryway improvements in Corona del Mar that calls for eliminating a traffic lane and nine street parking spaces on Coast Highway to create space for more landscaping and widened sidewalks. The changes are intended to make the entry to Corona del Mar more pedestrian friendly and more aesthetically pleasing.
Temporary traffic control devices, including 36-inch-tall, orange, “stick-down” delineators are being used for the duration of the trial project. There will also be edge-line striping and advance signing for the lane reduction.
During the trial period, there will a loss of eight, on-street parking spaces between Begonia Avenue and Carnation Avenue. Parking will be maintained between Avocado Avenue and Begonia Avenue. We had many responses to our community survey which has now been closed so our traffic engineering staff can review the collected information.
For more information about the traffic lane reduction test, please contact the City at traffic@newportbeachca.gov or 949-644-3344.