Work begins on downtown Long Beach bicycle lanes

Construction began Monday on two bicycle lanes in downtown Long Beach, part of an overall plan to make the city more bike-friendly, officials said.

The project, scheduled for completion by March 11, is designed to help bicyclists navigate downtown, reduce conflicts between bicyclists and motorists and encourage bicycle riding.

It marks the final phase of construction in the Broadway and Third Street Separated Bikeways Project, said Sumire Gant, the city's transportation programs officer.

The lanes will be built along Broadway Avenue and Third Street from Alamitos to Golden avenues. Both Broadway and Third will be outfitted with special traffic signals for drivers and bicyclists, and the lanes will be separated from motor traffic by a painted median island and a curb next to on-street parking.

The project's $639,594 cost will come out of city transportation funds, Gant said.

The city will study the efficiency of the new design in six months and again in a year, Gant said. If approved by federal and state agencies, the city could make the bikeways permanent by installing landscaped medians.

Parking on the south side of Broadway will not be affected during construction, but parking on the north side of Broadway and the south side of Third Street may be inaccessible at times, he said.

Residents will be allowed free parking in designated city lots, Gant said. Construction should not cause congestion along Broadway and Third Street during the day, he said.

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-- Nate Jackson

Image: Map shows location of bike lanes under construction in blue. Credit: Los Angeles Times