Manhattan Beach Adds ADA Ramps, New Signal Poles To Intersections

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Work continues in the Downtown Traffic Signal Upgrade Project with crews at work on the intersection of Highland Avenue and 15th Street in Downtown Manhattan Beach. The project, which began in 2018 with an approved budget of $1,063,202, did not have sufficient funding to cover the the Highland/15th Street intersection but that funding of $280,000 was later found in the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget from the Measure M fund, according to a Manhattan Beach City Council agenda for the Oct. 15, 2019 meeting.

The work delivers upgrades to aging equipment and the installation of ADA rams. It has consisted of excavation, the installation of new traffic signal poles, pole foundations, ADA ramps, conduit, pull boxes, utility relocations, asphalt concrete repairs to existing public improvements and other work.

Work at the original four intersections of

• Valley Drive/Ardmore Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard;
• Highland Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard;
• Manhattan Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard; and
• Valley Drive/Ardmore Avenue and 15th Street

has been mostly completed, according to Stephanie Katsouleas, the City of Manhattan Beach's public works director. "Any punch list items will be addressed by the conclusion of the entire project," she told Manhattan Beach Patch.

Given that the Highland/15th Street intersection was an addition to an existing project, the "steel poles for the 15th Street signals were ordered after the contract was amended, but did not arrive in time to be installed before the downtown summer construction moratorium (Memorial Day to Labor Day)," said Katsouleas. "With the contractor’s other planned commitments, our project had to be fit back into their schedule. This work is scheduled to conclude by May, 2021."