The city of San Diego is embracing Mayor Todd Gloria's "Sexy Streets" initiative and embarks on resurfacing Convoy Street from the SR-52 on-ramp to Kearny Mesa Road which begins tonight, according to a recent press release by the City of San Diego. This crucial move follows a recently completed water and wastewater pipe replacement project, and aims to improve accessibility for residents and visitors alike traveling through the busy corridor.
🚧Asphalt overlay resurfacing of Convoy Street begins tonight. Work will start near SR-52 and will be performed Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The project consists of two phases that will see Convoy Street resurfaced from SR-52 to Kearny Mesa Road by spring 2024. pic.twitter.com/D9KGfEYhuX
— City of San Diego (@CityofSanDiego) September 13, 2023
Long-anticipated and highly sought after, this major thoroughfare connects people to a flourishing cultural district marked with a plethora of restaurants and small businesses. "This repaving project is part of my administration’s plan to address years-long underinvestment in our infrastructure and to make certain every community has quality streets" said Mayor Gloria. Boasting a timeline set to be completed by spring 2024, the resurfacing project has been divided into two phases—beginning with the SR-52 on-ramp and continuing southbound to Dagget Street, then switching to the northbound lanes, while the second phase will carry on from Dagget Street to Kearny Mesa Road.
The asphalt overlay technique of resurfacing breathes new life into the streets by imposing a one to three-inch layer of asphalt atop the existing, freshly milled surface. With construction taking place Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., businesses and residential areas along Convoy Street can rest assured that access will remain open during this time.
Councilmember Kent Lee has voiced his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "As Chair of the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Councilmember representing District 6, I am thrilled to see mobility investments and street improvements that will continue to transform the Convoy District into a vibrant, mix-used, culinary and cultural hub that celebrates San Diego’s AAPI community.”
Furthermore, the resurfacing project caters to the needs for improved safety and mobility for all transport modes by including the installation of separated bike lanes along Convoy Street. These lanes, as part of the adopted Kearny Mesa Community Plan, will cater not only to bicyclists but also to micro-mobility device users, such as scooter riders. Buffered by space and posts from traffic, the Class IV bike lanes create connections within Kearny Mesa and its surrounding communities. Plans extend far beyond Convoy Street, as the City works to implement scooter and bike corrals throughout the corridor.
With the parking study completion and over 2,300 public parking spaces in place, the City has adjusted parking arrangements to accommodate the separated bike lanes while also redistributing some parking spaces to nearby cross streets. Despite the parking adjustments, the City designed angled parking spaces and shared parking agreements with nearby businesses, including arrangements for wayfinding signage and privately operated shuttle services, to cater to the bustling Convoy business area.
The Convoy District Partnership is working alongside the City to create a community parking district which will implement parking management solutions as suggested in the recent parking study. With the master plan in motion, progressive updates and feasible improvements can be found on the City's Bicycling Projects page.
