Public Works

Carson Street Complete Street Project

   

Carson Street Existing Condition

Existing gutter removed in preparation for new concrete (February 2026)

Existing gutter removed in preparation for new concrete (February 2026)

Carson Street Exhibit

  

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Additional project updates and information will be published on an on-going basis.

Click here for project updates.

Background

The Carson Street Complete Street Project is a City initiative to modernize infrastructure and improve safety from Orange Avenue to the eastern city boundary with Lakewood, making Carson Street safer, smoother, and more accessible for people walking, biking, driving, and using transit.

Informed by community feedback and guided by the City’s Safe Streets Long Beach initiative and Pavement Management Plan (PMP), the project will deliver a range of safety and mobility upgrades from Orange Avenue to the eastern city boundary with Lakewood. These include resurfacing the roadway, installing new Class II bike lanes, upgrading sidewalks and curb ramps to meet ADA standards, and enhancing key bus stops. Additional improvements, such as high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, and refreshed striping, are designed to reduce collisions and enhance travel comfort for all users.

This project is part of the Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, a historic initiative dedicated to enhancing Long Beach parks, community facilities, mobility access, and streets. Learn more at lbelevate28.com.

Timeline

Project timeline is set barring weather delays and other unforeseen circumstances.

Objectives

• Enhance Safety for All Roadway Users by Reducing Conflicts Between Vehicles, Cyclists, and Pedestrians

• Improve Accessibility

• Support Multimodal Travel Options

• Improve Road Surface Quality

• Strengthen Community Connections and Transit Access

Project Scope

Pavement and Infrastructure Improvements

• Resurfacing Carson Street with rubberized asphalt for a smoother, safer driving surface and longer pavement life.
• Reconstruction of curb ramps and sidewalks to meet ADA standards and improve pedestrian safety.
• Curb and gutter repairs to address drainage issues and reduce ponding.
• New traffic striping to improve visibility.

Multimodal Safety Enhancements

• Class II Striped Bikeways:
  New dedicated bike lanes in both directions will provide cyclists with a clearly marked travel space. No vehicle lanes will be removed.
• Pedestrian Crossings & Safety Islands:
  • Continental crosswalks at Orange, Cherry, Gundry, and Walnut Avenues for increased visibility.
  • Refuge islands at Gundry and Walnut Avenues to support safer pedestrian movement.
  • Left-turns from Gundry onto Carson will be limited to reduce conflicts, a change informed by a recent traffic fatality

Transit Accessibility Upgrades

• New concrete bus pads at Stops 1241, 1299, and 0285 for safer, more durable boarding areas.
• A new bus shelter at Stop 0205 (NE corner of Carson and Cherry) for comfort and protection from the elements.
• Upgrades are designed to make public transit more convenient, accessible, and safer for riders.

Tree Removal for Safety and Accessibility

• Seven trees will be removed due to poor health or root-related infrastructure conflicts. Locations include:
  • Behind 1516 and 1526 Cartegena Street
  • 1311 Somerset Place
  • 1325, 1642, 1720, 1726, and 1832 E. Carson Street

Project Funding

This project is supported by State gas tax along with Metro Measure M, Prop A and Prop C funding.

More Information

• Carson Complete Street Project Exhibit  

Project Updates

February 2026

Construction efforts are advancing on the Carson Street Complete Street Project. The gutter along the north side of Carson Street has been demolished in preparation for new concrete. Fresh concrete is scheduled to be poured in the coming weeks, barring weather or other unforeseen circumstances.