• Construction will resume after Labor Day 2026.  
• Traffic lanes will shift with one car lane in each direction.
• Portions of the sidewalk on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard will be closed at times along the work area. Please use the lower sea wall or the sidewalk on the east side of Carlsbad Boulevard.
• One or two beach stairways will be closed at a time during construction. Please use nearby beach access points as alternatives.
• Some street parking will be restricted.
• Bike lanes will be maintained with occasional detours.
• Traffic delays are possible, so please give yourself extra time to get where you need to go. 
• Projects like this can create noise and dust.
• Construction equipment and signage will be visible throughout the work area.
• Work at both the Hemlock Avenue and Cherry Avenue stairs will resume after Labor Day. Demolition and construction of the stairs at Sycamore and Maple avenues is scheduled to start in fall 2026.

How can I access the beach during construction? 
The stairways at Hemlock and Cherry avenues are closed. Nearby access points, including the ramps at Pine and Tamarack and stairways at Maple and Sycamore, will remain open. 

Does this project improve ADA access to the beach? 
The city has a separate project underway to improve ADA beach access near Pine and Tamarack avenues. This project is in the design phase and could begin construction in a few years. 

How is traffic being affected? 
During construction, the number of traffic lanes will be temporarily reduced and the speed limit lowered to 20 mph in the work area.

The Beach access repair project will replace the four stairways along Carlsbad Boulevard between Hemlock and Pine avenues and widen the sidewalk over the cliff between Cherry and Pine avenues. The sidewalks and stairways were built in the 1980s and concrete has chipped away in places to expose rebar, there is visible corrosion, and soil has eroded away from some of the foundations.

The replacements and other improvements would use new high-strength beams with corrosion resistant precast concrete. The new stairs and sidewalk are expected to last approximately 50 years.

Stair design details

• The stair locations and general design, including the landing areas/platforms, will remain the same.
• Four will utilize the existing reinforced concrete piles that support the stairway landings.
• The stair handrails will be replaced with similar railings and would include downward facing lights.
• Short retaining wall extensions (no more than 20 feet long each) will replace the sandbags there now, which control soil from the bluff affecting stair usage. These are located at the base of Maple, Sycamore and Hemlock avenues.
• Existing streetlight poles will be replaced.
• The project will also help reinforce and stabilize the bluff.

Sidewalk details

• The sidewalk between Pine and Cherry avenues will be widened to make more room for the many walkers, joggers and other users who enjoy this popular location:
• From Pine to Cherry avenues, people will get 2½ feet of additional space.
  • 1 foot will come from the removal of the surface mounted railing and metal beam guardrail, which is consistent with sidewalks to the north and south.
  • The sidewalk will also be extended 1½ feet to the west.
• Much of the sidewalk was built using a cantilevered design, where a substructure allows the sidewalk to jut out over the bluff below. This is why it can be extended a bit to the west.
• The ground level sidewalk with a retaining wall would be extended to the west using a new concrete wall and pillars.

Overlooks

• The two sidewalk overlooks at Walnut Avenue and Acacia Avenue would be replaced without changing the size or location.
• Both outlooks will get new railings.
• The Acacia outlook railing will be replaced with new surface-mounted railing, which would provide additional usable space.

Nov. 19, 2024 | City Council
Approved the plans, specifications and contract documents for the project and authorized the advertisement of bids. 

Aug. 5, 2024 | Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission
Supported staff's recommendation to approve the final plans and specifications for the beach access and repairs project. 

July 19, 2023 | Planning Commission
Approved a Coastal Development Permit and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the beach access repairs project. 

May 16, 2023 | City Council
Adopted a resolution authorizing the execution of a right of entry permit with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to maintain the upper picnic facilities at Tamarack State Beach and the coastal bluff at Tamarack/Frazee State Beach, and to reimburse the state for plan reviews of two Capital Improvement Program projects that impact state property: Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades from Pine to Tamarack Avenues, and Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue Intersection Improvements.

May 9, 2023 | City Council
Adopted a resolution approving an amendment to the professional services agreement with GHD Inc., for additional engineering design and environmental permitting services for the Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue Project, increasing the not to exceed amount by $189,935 and extending the term by three years. 

Nov. 15, 2022 | City Council
Adopted a resolution authorizing an amendment to the existing right-of-entry permit with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to include reimbursement, up to an amount of $40,000, for plan reviews for the Beach Access Repairs and Upgrades from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue.

Feb. 4, 2021 | City Council
Reviewed Fiscal Year 2021-22 department priorities and capacity updates, including Carlsbad Boulevard beach access repairs from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue, during the City Council Goals Workshop – Department Priorities and Capacity Update.

Oct. 5, 2020 | Traffic and Mobility Commission
Received a presentation and provided feedback on staff’s approach to implementing the design of the Beach Access Repairs and Improvements Project.

April 21, 2020 | City Council
Adopted a Resolution approving Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with GHD for professional engineering services for the Beach Access Repairs from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue.

Jan. 9, 2018 | City Council
Adopted a resolution approving a professional services agreement for the preparation of construction plans, specifications, cost estimates and environmental permits with GHD, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $500,000 for Carlsbad Boulevard beach access repairs from Pine Avenue to Tamarack Avenue.