Supervisors ask contractor to revisit July closure plan for Avila Beach roundabout after business, bike groups warn of summer impacts

San Luis Obispo County supervisors voted 5-0 on May 1 to ask Public Works and the project contractor to return to the board with updated plans for the Avila Beach Drive roundabout work after residents, business owners and bicycle advocates warned that a 40‑day intersection closure during peak summer months could disrupt emergency access, events and visitor traffic.

The board’s action directed staff to ask CalPortland and its subcontractors to explore alternative phasing or timing, expand outreach to businesses and event organizers, and return with a report and recommended mitigation measures at the May 6 meeting. Chairperson Ortiz Lehi made the request on the record and the board agreed to re‑agenda the item for next week.

Why it matters: Public commenters and several supervisors said the closure, as currently scheduled, falls in the region’s busiest tourism period and could hurt small businesses that depend on summer traffic. Speakers urged the county to prioritize clear communications, a dedicated construction liaison, daily coordination with event organizers and a protected temporary biking route during the closure.

Public concerns and staff response

Visit SlowCal urged the board to approve the roundabout but warned the planned closure will come during peak visitor season. “We support the Avila Beach Drive Roundabout project,” Whitney Chaney said, “however…we have concerns regarding the upcoming closure.” Chaney recommended proactive business outreach, wayfinding, marketing support and real‑time visitor alerts to limit economic damage.

Avila Valley Barn owner Raven Lucart told supervisors her business receives most customers in June and July and asked the county to schedule the closure for August when schools are in session. “I’m concerned for all businesses. I’m concerned for our safety,” she said, citing traffic backups that already stretch to Sea Canyon Road and the potential for emergency‑vehicle delays with only a single entrance and exit.

Cycling advocates also backed the safety goals of the project while pressing the county to preserve bike access. Leah Brooks of Friends of the Bob Jones Trail said the bicycling community felt “first shock and then relief” on learning the county will work with the contractor on a temporary bicycle route, and she asked staff to ensure a safe, maintained alignment for people on bikes during construction.

Public Works project manager John Waddell told the board that staff and the project team recognize there is “no good time for a detour closure in Avila” and that the phase under discussion landed in summer because of the contractor’s overall 20‑month schedule. He said staff had begun talking about routing and post‑construction bike circulation but that outreach must be stepped up for the closure itself.

Board direction and next steps

Supervisors broadly supported the roundabout’s safety objectives but said the closure plan needed more work. The board asked Public Works to: - Revisit sequencing and ask CalPortland whether the 40‑day north/south closure can be shifted away from peak summer events or otherwise phased to reduce disruption; - Provide a staffing and flagger plan that ensures flagging coverage at critical locations (supervisors specifically requested a posted flagger at the San Luis Bay Estates entrance during peak hours); - Designate a single construction liaison to serve as the point of contact for businesses, residents, cyclists and event organizers; - Produce an outreach and communications plan that includes mapping apps, a dedicated web page, email/text alerts and wayfinding signage before and during the closure; and - Provide a plan for a temporary, maintained bike route through or around the intersection during the 40‑day closure so north–south bicycle access is not fully cut off.

Supervisor Ortiz Lehi said she expects staff to return with a contractor response and a revised mitigation package at the board’s next meeting on May 6. The board voted unanimously to re‑agenda the item for that date.

Stakeholder details and local context

Speakers described several large summer events that could intersect with construction: the Friday Farmers Market (often up to 1,000 visitors), the C-10 truck show (commenters estimated about 3,000 attendees) and other beach events that draw day visitors and overnight stays. Commenters asked the county to coordinate flagger schedules with event end times (for example, flaggers finishing at 7 p.m. when a market runs to 8 p.m.) and to provide wayfinding that directs visitors to open businesses.

Contractor and traffic technology

Waddell said detour routing information will be integrated into the county’s mapping contracts so navigation apps will route visitors into Avila using the detour once signage and detour timing are finalized. He told supervisors that staff planned to ramp public messaging as the closure date nears, and that the county has an established advisory committee for Avila Valley that staff has been consulting.

Votes and formal action

The board voted 5-0 to re‑agenda the Avila Beach Drive roundabout update and directed Public Works to return with the contractor (CalPortland) and a revised outreach/mitigation plan on the May 6 agenda.

What’s next

Public Works will report back with (1) the contractor’s feedback on phasing and whether the July closure can be moved or altered, (2) an outreach timetable, (3) a proposed construction liaison and contact list for businesses and event organizers, (4) a recommended flagger/posting plan for critical intersections including San Luis Bay Estates, and (5) a temporary bike‑route design and maintenance plan for the duration of the closure. Supervisors said they expect to vote on any changes when the item returns.

Sources: Public comment and staff presentations during the May 1, 2025 San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting; quotations and factual descriptions are drawn from recorded remarks by Whitney Chaney (Visit SlowCal), Raven Lucart (Avila Valley Barn), Leah Brooks (Friends of the Bob Jones Trail), John Waddell (Public Works) and Chairperson Ortiz Lehi.