Civic leaders praised the City’s decision to construct a roundabout and other traffic-calming improvements at Foothill Boulevard and Loring Street in Pacific Beach.

The announcement came shortly following yet another recent auto collision at the nettlesome crossing.

Construction of the estimated $2.4 million project is set to begin the third quarter of 2021, with completion anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“The Foothill and Loring Roundabout project consists of a large, complex roundabout, significant storm-drain improvements, water-quality elements, pavement reconstruction, and ADA-accessibility upgrades to the Foothill and Loring intersection,” said City spokesperson Alec Phillipp.

“This project originally had a beginning construction date of spring 2022. However, keeping in line with the community’s high prioritization of the project, the project team is expediting its design and anticipating to begin construction by fall 2021, provided the construction funding is secured.”

Added Phillipp: “As of now the anticipated design costs are fully funded.  However, full construction funding has not been identified yet. As is standard for all projects, the timeline is subject to change.”

Phillipp said this problematic stretch of roadway has been evaluated numerous times, listing past improvements, which have included edge line striping, curve warning signs, oversized speed limit signs, electronic speed signs, a road diet between Loring and Beryl, and prohibition of use by trucks over five tons, as well as removal of the free right-turn for eastbound traffic on Loring at Foothill Drive.

PB community planners and activists engaged with the roundabout effort were elated by the news of proposed roundabout construction.

“The construction of this roundabout cannot come soon enough, and in fact, we want this thing built yesterday,” said Brian White, president of Pacific Beach Town Council. “Hopefully, the valiant efforts of local petitioners will also prompt the city to install additional traffic-calming measures and flashing crosswalks along Foothill Boulevard to make it less dangerous for families and children crossing the street on their way to PB Elementary. With car accidents happening routinely along this stretch, the game of ‘Foothill Frogger’ is not one residents should have to play while trying to cross on foot between speeding cars.”

“At a time when public safety is on the minds of all of us, this is a wonderful investment by the City in another form of public safety – making an extremely dangerous street that cuts through a residential neighborhood safer,” said community activist Tom Coat, a Foothill resident who’s spearheaded a petition drive for the roadway to be improved.

“I hope this is the first of several traffic-calming measures that will transform ‘Foothill Freeway’ into what it was intended to be – Foothill Boulevard, a street that is safe for school kids, families, elderly residents, cyclists, and drivers.”

Added Coat: “This didn’t just happen. It took the efforts of the Pacific Beach Planning Group, the Pacific Beach Town Council, District 2 Councilmembers Dr. Jen Campbell and Lorie Zapf, and, most of all, the dogged determination of the residents in the area, who never gave up during almost 30 years of pleading for a safer street. We are very grateful.”

PB Planning Group chair Karl Rand concurred the project is a huge step forward for safety.

“This roundabout is of enormous importance to PB,” Rand said. “The current layout of that intersection has led to countless accidents over the years, and the local community has been trying for over 20 years to get it fixed. We are pleased and excited to hear this project is finally taking root. The PB Planning Group will track it closely. We expect the City will provide a process for public input, but we will provide input whether they ask for it or not.”

Rand said he had arranged a presentation to PBPG by the City Public Works Department about this specific roundabout “so we could ask questions about the process, public input, timing, etc.  Unfortunately, that effort was sidetracked when our in-person meetings were canceled. I am working to schedule the presentation for our upcoming PBPG online meeting on May 13 at 6:30 p.m., but it has not been confirmed yet.”