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Huizar Cuts Ribbon on El Sereno’s Alhambra Avenue Safety Improvements

The Alhambra Avenue Safety Improvements include 1.5 miles of new road diet bike lanes. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.

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This story sponsored by Los Angeles Metro to remind readers of traffic pattern changes resulting from Purple Line Construction. Unless noted in the story, Metro is not consulted for the content or editorial direction of the sponsored content.

Just over a week ago, El Sereno leaders joined L.A. City Councilmember José Huizar and city staff to cut the ceremonial ribbon on the Alhambra Avenue Safety Improvements project.

Councilmember Huizar (center light blue shirt) with El Sereno community leaders cutting the ribbon on the Alhambra Avenue Safety Improvements
Councilmember Huizar (center light blue shirt) with El Sereno community leaders cutting the ribbon on the Alhambra Avenue Safety Improvements
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The $1.2 million project broke ground in January. It extends 1.5 miles along Alhambra Avenue from Valley Boulevard to the city limit just east of Lowell Avenue.

The improvements are most dramatic from Lowell Avenue to the city border with unincorporated East L.A. This area, adjacent to the El Sereno Arroyo Playground, has an S-curve that neighbors report has been crash-prone. There were no sidewalks there. On the north side of the street there was a dirt path below a crumbling dirt slope.

Before: Alhambra Avenue at Lowell Avenue. Image via Google street view
Before: Alhambra Avenue at Lowell Avenue. Image via Google street view
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The city added a new signal at Lowell, a new sidewalk and retaining wall, and extended curbside crash barriers.

After: Alhambra Avenue at Lowell last week
After: Alhambra Avenue at Lowell last week
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View of the Alhambra Avenue S-curve after improvements
View of the Alhambra Avenue S-curve after improvements
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AlhambraAv318Aug9
The eastbound portion of the Alhambra Avenue S-curve has a short stretch of buffered bike lane
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Alhambra Avenue's bike lane ends at the East L.A. limit where Alhambra becomes W. Mission Road
Alhambra Avenue's bike lane ends at the East L.A. limit where Alhambra becomes W. Mission Road
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The project included resurfacing Alhambra Avenue with a road diet lane reduction on Alhambra Avenue from Valley Boulevard to Lowell. Four travel lanes were reduced to two, with a center turn lane and bike lanes added.

Center turn lane and bike lanes were added to 1.5 miles of Alhambra Avenue
Center turn lane and bike lanes were added to 1.5 miles of Alhambra Avenue
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One remaining component of the project is still being installed: a new flashing-lights crosswalk at Hollister Avenue. Last week, L.A. City Transportation Department (LADOT) crews were installing the new crosswalk signal hardware.

LADOT installing new crosswalk signal on Alhambra Avenue at Hollister Avenue
LADOT installing new crosswalk signal on Alhambra Avenue at Hollister Avenue
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