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Atascadero says paving, striping and night work will finish ECR upgrades; some businesses and residents raise intersection safety concerns
Summary
City manager outlined final construction steps on the El Camino Real (ECR) corridor and Interstate 41 area, including pavement striping, bollard installation and night paving on June 4; several residents and at least one downtown business owner told council that some redesigned intersections are confusing and may reduce access to storefronts.
Atascadero City Manager Luis said the final phase of the El Camino Real (ECR) corridor project will include pavement striping, bollard installation and asphalt milling and paving north of Trafficway, with intermittent daytime closures and one scheduled night shift on June 4 to reduce impacts. "In order to minimize impacts, and safety, we are going to do some night work on Wednesday evening, June 4," Luis told the council.
The work is concentrated between Highway 41 and the police station at Rosario, with a heavier construction zone around the median on El Camino where electrical crosswalk pavers and decomposed granite pathways are being installed. The city is using message signs, flaggers and detour routes through Entrada and the Sunken Garden to manage traffic.
The resurfacing and final treatment are intended to complete a yearlong project that city staff said will provide a “full street treatment” for the corridor. "Next week, as we enter June, work will continue on El Camino between 41 and Trafficway, with plants for the most part, and we'll see asphalt milling and paving north of Trafficway," Luis said.
At public comment, residents and a downtown business owner said redesigned intersections and new curb profiles are creating safety and access problems. One speaker said a new “no left turn” at the intersection across from a gas station forces motorists to detour or make illegal turns; a downtown business owner, Brian Golden, asked the city to improve visibility and temporary controls at a curb that is being hit frequently. "It's just I need to know if the city's gotta be aware of what's going there because 90% of all the people that come up from city hall make a u-turn there," Golden told council.
Council members asked staff to coordinate construction schedules with community events, noting that June 4 is a night with high school graduation activities in town; staff said they are working with the contractor to avoid conflicts and may delay night paving as needed. Council also asked staff to follow up on decorative caps for new light poles, after residents raised concerns that some pole tops look unfinished.
City staff emphasized drivers should expect short delays and follow traffic signage while work continues. The council did not take any formal votes on the ECR project at the meeting.
Ending: Staff said they will keep the council and public updated on night-work scheduling and on any temporary mitigations (cones, signage) to address problematic curb geometry raised by speakers.
