Residents and commuters in Kearny Mesa can expect smoother drives ahead as Mayor Todd Gloria's "Sexy Streets" initiative rolls on to its next phase, with Balboa Avenue set to undergo major repairs starting Monday, July 29. Kearny Mesa's Balboa Avenue, between Kearny Villa Road and Genesee Avenue, will see repaving work, part of the City of San Diego's efforts to rejuvenate its road network, enhancing connectivity and overall infrastructure quality. As reported by the City of San Diego, this move follows the recent repair work on Convoy Street and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, which was part of the same initiative.
The initiative isn't just skin-deep road fixes. It's a comprehensive upgrade to the communities' infrastructure, aiming to provide better transportation options. Mayor Gloria has been vocal about his commitment to urban improvement, stating, as per the City of San Diego, "By investing in main thoroughfares like Balboa Avenue, Convoy Street and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, we're not just fixing roads; we're enhancing the quality of life, improving connectivity, and supporting economic vitality in our communities." The initiative falls under the wider goals of the Kearny Mesa Community Plan, which seeks to address housing and transportation development in the area.
Funding for these endeavors has made headlines, with the "Protecting Our Progress" budget proposing a record $104.7 million for overlay reconstruction projects and an additional $35.3 million for slurry seal. This investment, outlined in the FY25 budget, is anticipated to cover approximately 225 miles of road repair across San Diego. A following up on the work from last year, the city completed the asphalt overlay on Convoy Street and tackled the dire street conditions on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, which had been plagued by a high concentration of large potholes.
The overhaul of Balboa Avenue is expected to take four weeks, split into two phases: night work followed by day work, and finally, lane striping. According to a 2023 Pavement Condition Assessment, this particular artery had spots that scored as 'poor' to 'failed,' necessitating more costly and extensive repair methods. In an effort to prioritize and manage repairs, San Diego selects roads based on criteria such as traffic volume, transit connections, maintenance history, and, of course, the Pavement Condition Index (PCI).
