Delayed to address flooding issues, work has resumed on the much-anticipated traffic-calming roundabout at Foothill Boulevard and Loring Street in Pacific Beach.

Construction of the roundabout at that intersection officially began on June 30 of last year, when District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava and City officials were joined by a construction crew to usher in the infrastructure improvement project requested by the community.

But the project quickly hit a snag. “After nearly a year of work to fix drainage problems at Foothill Boulevard and Loring Street, crews on May 24 began construction on the next phase of the $3.8 million project that is expected to become perhaps the largest roundabout in San Diego,” said Tom Coat, a neighbor who has worked for years to bring traffic calming to Foothill, which has been plagued by speeding and traffic accidents for years.

“Officials estimate the roundabout may be completed as early as this fall. The long-awaited project is intended to calm traffic on Foothill Boulevard, and is part of the City’s efforts to build up to 35 roundabouts by 2035.”

Concerning delays to the roundabout and other associated upgrades on Foothill Boulevard, Tyler Becker, City senior spokesperson said: “Construction began in 2023, but the originally anticipated completion date in late 2023 was delayed due to project changes, including storm drain improvements and water main relocation. These changes have pushed the expected project completion to September 2024 and increased the total construction contract cost to $2.2 million from the original construction amount of $1.7 million.”

Added Becker: “The total project cost, which includes construction contract, design, and construction management, increased from $2.3 million to $3.8 million. To date, construction crews have already completed all water main improvements related to this project.”

The project aims to improve safety by constructing a roundabout and curb extension at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Loring Street, along with the construction of new continental crosswalks with rapid-flashing beacons, curb ramps, and sidewalks. These improvements will provide traffic calming on Foothill Boulevard and safer access for motorists crossing or turning left onto Foothill Boulevard from Loring Street, reducing the number of accidents in the area.

Traffic calming was begun after residents successfully lobbied the Pacific Beach Planning Group, the Pacific Beach Town Council, and then-City Council member Lorie Zapf for the roundabout. Once preliminary approval was granted, design work for the roundabout was finished in the fall of 2022. With the support of LaCava, work began in June of 2023 to fix drainage issues that caused flooding at the heavily traveled intersection after rains.

On the night of May 23, neighbor Coat noted construction on the roundabout resumed the next morning after City crews turned off the water to residents to begin roundabout construction. Coat added plans call for the finished project to include a truck apron and raised splitter islands with passageways; curb extensions; curb and gutter; a sidewalk; curb ramps; proprietary BMP; continental crosswalks; driveways; PCC pavement; and striping and signing.