Morro Bay Pavement Project

Project Description

The project is located from post mile 25.7 to post mile 34.4, on Highway 1 in Morro Bay and Cayucos, in San Luis Obispo County. The primary scope of the project is pavement rehabilitation. The project also includes various asset improvements within the project limits.

The project would include the following:

Pavement and Parking Lot Improvements

The project would:

• Grind and overlay pavement on lanes, shoulders and ramps on State Route 1 within the project limits.<
• Replace existing traffic stripes, pavement markings, and rumble strips in kind.
• Place shoulder backing throughout the project limits, next to the inside and outside shoulders, except where the median is paved and locations where the highway crosses through cut slopes.
• Replace any Transportation Management System loops and signal loops damaged by pavement grinding.

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Improvements

The project would:

• Replace nine curb ramps, modify one curb ramp, and install one new curb ramp (for a total of 11 curb ramps). These curb ramps are at the following locations:
  • Modify one of the curb ramps at the northbound State Route 1 offramp at Morro Bay Boulevard by adding detectable warning.
  • Replace four of the curb ramps at the intersection of State Route 41 and State Route 1.
  • Replace four of the curb ramps at the Yerba Buena Street and State Route 1 intersection.
  • Replace one of the curb ramps at the San Jacinto Street and State Route 1 intersection.
  • Add a curb ramp at the San Jacinto Street and State Route 1 intersection.
• In addition, three curb ramps will be replaced and two new curb ramps will be installed through a cooperative agreement with the City of Morro Bay. These curb ramps are at the following locations:
  • Two new curb ramps will be installed at the San Jacinto Street and Main Street intersection.
  • Three curb ramps will be replaced at the Yerba Buena Street, two at the intersection of Main Street, and one at the Toro Lane intersection.
• Install accessible pedestrian signals with speakers. Two would be installed at the intersection of State Route 1 and San Jacinto Street, and four would be installed at the intersection of State Route 1 and Yerba Buena Street.
• The project also includes sidewalk rehabilitation.
  • The sidewalks under the Main Street Undercrossing and at the southeastern corner of San Jacinto Street and State Route 1 will be upgraded from asphalt to concrete.
  • The sidewalk at the corner of Yerba Buena Street and State Route 1 is currently concrete and will be replaced in kind.
• Conduct minor roadway widening and relocate traffic signals at three signalized intersections to add bike lanes between through lanes and right-turn pockets at the following intersections; San Jacinto Street, Yerba Buena Street, and Old Creek Road.

Lighting and Sign Improvements

The project would:

• Replace 12 light poles.
• Replace conduits for light poles if they are no longer usable.
• Replace 17 sign panels and posts.

Traffic Safety Systems Improvements

The project would:

• Replace about 3,900 linear feet of guardrail with the Midwest Guardrail System and install vegetation control, likely crushed shale.
• Replace about 4,300 linear feet of thrie beam barrier with concrete barrier (Type MM).
• Install concrete barrier transitions where guardrails end at bridge rails.

Drainage Improvements

The project would:

• Remove and replace existing dikes, down drains, and overside drains at numerous locations throughout the project limits.
• Extend node four of culvert system 49-001-02-03112 about eight feet (16 linear feet due to the culvert system having two pipes) and remove and relocate the headwall to widen the roadway to place a bike lane at the signalized intersection of State Route 1 and San Jacinto Street. The slope of concrete ditches may be adjusted.

Fence Replacement

The project would:

• Replace the right-of-way fencing (6-foot chain link fence) at locations where the fence is in poor condition.

 

Project Benefits

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to preserve and extend the life of the existing pavement; repair and/or upgrade lighting, sign panels, and guardrail and other barrier systems to current standards; restore drainage system; replace right-of-way fencing in poor condition; improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities; and maintain an efficient transportation system.

Need

The project is needed because the existing pavement condition within the project limits is deteriorating, exhibiting distress and unacceptable ride quality. If left untreated, deterioration will continue and result in increasingly higher maintenance costs in the future. Lighting, sign panels, and sections of guardrail and other barriers within the project limits are in poor condition and/or do not meet current standards. There is currently an approximately 150-foot gap between the end of the existing bike lane on northbound State Route 1 and the San Jacinto Street/State Route 1 intersection. In order to close the gap, widening of the road is needed in this location to accommodate the extension of the bike lane. Some right-of-way fencing in the project limits is also in poor condition and requires replacement. Limited and/or deteriorated multimodal (pedestrian and cyclist) facilities have been identified within the project limits and improvements are needed to address issues such as sidewalks in poor condition, curb ramps that do not comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and lack of accessible pedestrian signals and/or bike lanes at certain project intersections. Transportation management system traffic loops (data collection devices embedded within the roadway) will be damaged during the project’s pavement grinding and will require replacement.

Estimated Funding Breakdown

Partnerships

• City of Morro Bay
• San Luis Obispo County
• California Coastal Commission

Proposed Project Schedule

Project Contact

Thomas Martin, Project Manager
Phone: 805-276-0964
Email: thomas.martin@dot.ca.gov

Matt Fowler, Senior Environmental Planner
Phone: 805-779-0793
Email: matt.c.fowler@dot.ca.gov

District 5 Public Information Office
Phone: 805-549-3237
Email: info-d5@dot.ca.gov

Documents

Accessibility Assistance: Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at (916) 654-2852 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.

• Fact Sheet (PDF, 458 KB)
• Public Notice (PDF, 84 KB)

Public Meetings

An online public scoping meeting was held on September 16, 2024 to support the Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report. There were no attendees aside from Caltrans staff.

After the scoping meeting, District 5 archaeological staff conducted further studies on the cultural resources within the project limits. The results of the studies led the project development team to change the environmental document level from an Environmental Impact Report to a Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act.

In spring 2026, the Mitigated Negative Declaration was changed to a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act because no project impacts requiring compensatory mitigation had been identified by the project specialists. Similarly, the proposed Environmental Assessment document under the National Environmental Policy Act was changed to a Categorical Exclusion.

Thus, the environmental documentation for the project are expected to be a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act and a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Title VI Information

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).

Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Title VI Brochures

Title VI brochures in various languages