SANDAG Fourth and Fifth Avenue Bikeways Construction Update December 2020

The following information was shared with the Mission Hills Parking Advisory Committee by SANDAG. While this project is not directly located within Mission Hills, the affected area is a thoroughfare from downtown to Mission Hills and the Uptown areas, therefore, construction may affect the parking and transportation within Mission Hills.

Recent Construction Activities

Over the past month, SANDAG crews continued construction of the Fourth and Fifth Avenue Bikeways in the City of San Diego. Crews continued construction of the median islands that will separate the bikeway from the parking and travel lanes on Fifth Avenue between Fir and Laurel streets. Crews also constructed stormwater drainage improvements, upgraded curb ramps, and installed medians where landscaping will be planted at various intersections on Fourth Avenue between Elm and Grape streets.

Upcoming Construction Activities

SANDAG crews will continue construction work along Fourth and Fifth avenues in Bankers Hill. 

Fifth Avenue:

• Laurel Street to Redwood Street: Crews will perform demolition along the west side of Fifth Avenue and form and pour concrete to construct raised median islands that will separate the bikeway from the parking and travel lanes. 
  
• Quince Street:Crews will construct a concrete bus pad and raised concrete bus island on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Quince Street. A bus pad is a durable section of concrete placed at the bus stop built to accommodate heavy use and bus weight better than asphalt. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus stop #12439 will be closed temporarily while this work is performed.
  
• Electrical Work: Crews will perform electrical work for traffic signal and street lighting improvements including trenching, installation of electrical wiring, and setting new traffic signal and street light poles. Electrical work on Fifth Avenue is anticipated to occur at the intersections listed below:
  • Elm Street
  • Grape Street
  • Juniper Street
  • Laurel Street
  • Nutmeg Street

Fourth Avenue:

• Laurel Street to Nutmeg Street: Crews will perform demolition along the east side of Fourth Avenue and form and pour concrete to construct raised median islands that will separate the bikeway from the parking and travel lanes.
• Quince Street: Crews will construct a concrete bus pad and raised concrete bus island on the northwest corner of Fourth Avenue and Quince Street, north of the Quince Street Bridge. This stop will replace MTS bus stop #12037, currently located on the southwest corner of Fourth Avenue and Palm Street. The existing stop #12037 will be closed permanently when the new stop is opened. A bus pad is a durable section of concrete placed at the bus stop built to accommodate heavy use and bus weight better than asphalt.
• Electrical Work:Crews will perform electrical work for traffic signal and street lighting improvements including trenching, installation of electrical wiring, and setting new traffic signal and street light poles. Electrical work on Fourth Avenue is anticipated to occur at the intersections listed below:
  • Elm Street
  • Grape Street
  • Juniper Street
  • Laurel Street
  • Nutmeg Street

No construction activities are planned for December 24, December 25, and January 1.

Please note: The newly constructed bikeway on Fifth Avenue between A Street and Laurel Street is still an active construction zone and is not yet open to the public. Please refrain from biking in the bikeway between the curb and the new raised concrete median islands. 

It is illegal to drive or park any vehicle in the bikeway during or post-construction. Vehicles parked in restricted areas are subject to towing and associated fees. New parking spaces have been striped and are open for use on the east side of the median, outside of the bikeway. 

What to Expect During Construction

• Most work will occur Monday through Friday, holidays excluded, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Occasional Saturday work may be required.
• Lane closures, traffic control, parking restrictions, and pedestrian detours will be in effect.
• Temporary bike lane closures: Bicyclists will be routed to the adjacent vehicle travel lane to bypass the existing bike lanes where crews will be working. Alternatively, people biking may choose a parallel route using the bike lanes on Sixth Avenue.
• Access to businesses and driveways will be maintained.

Crews will minimize impacts to the maximum extent possible. Please note, construction schedules are subject to change.

Construction notices will be posted online at KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/FourthandFifthBikewaysNotices.

About the Project

The Fourth and Fifth Avenue Bikeways project will add more than 4.5 miles of new bikeways that will make the streets safer and more pleasant for all users. They will provide a vital connection for residents to walk and bike between vibrant communities within San Diego’s urban core including Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, and Downtown San Diego.

Project features will include separated bikeways, buffered bike lanes, bike boxes, high-visibility crosswalks, and other traffic calming measures.

The Fourth and Fifth Avenue Bikeways project is a critical component of the SANDAG Regional Bike Plan Early Action Program (EAP), an initiative approved by the SANDAG Board of Directors in 2013 to construct a regional network of high-quality complete streets and bikeways that will make walking, biking, or using other forms of active transportation a competitive and attractive option for everyday travel. The proposed network reimagines how we use space on our streets to make them safer and more comfortable for every person who uses them, regardless of age, race, or physical ability.  

To learn more about Fourth and Fifth Avenue Bikeways, visit KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/FourthandFifthAvenueBikeways.

Questions/Concerns? Please email GObyBIKE@sandag.org or call the toll-free bikeway construction hotline at (833) 899-BIKE / (833) 899-2453. Follow @SANDAG on Twitter for construction updates; search for #GObyBIKEsd.