The City of Newport Beach (City) plans to temporarily alter 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 project, scheduled to begin during the week of June 25, 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.
A contractor retained by the City will install temporary traffic control devices, including 36-inch-tall, orange, “stick-down” delineators. The delineators will remain in place for the duration of the trial project. There will also be edge-line striping and advance signing for the lane reduction. It will take 1 – 2 days for the contractor to complete the installation work. The trial project will remain in place through the summer and into the early fall.
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.
For more information about the traffic lane reduction test, please visit www.newportbeachca.gov/cdmtraffic or contact the City at traffic@newportbeachca.gov or 949-644-3344.