Section of South Bay Boulevard to close for months due to pipeline work. Here’s a detour
Later this month, a section of roadway in Morro Bay that’s often used as an access point to Highway 1 will be closed for two months — and the work is expected to cause some traffic delays.
Due to pipeline construction that’s part of the wastewater treatment project, the stretch of South Bay Boulevard between Quintana Road and Highway 1 ramps will be closed starting Dec. 27.
That section is often used by those traveling from Los Osos to Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo, including commuters to schools, work, the nearby state park, and businesses.
Motorists may use detours, and should expect delays of up to five to 10 minutes, said City Manager Scott Collins.
Just the section of South Bay Boulevard will be closed.
Quintana Road, which runs parallel to Highway 1, will be fully open for use and offer access to Highway 1 one exit up the road in both directions of the closure.
For detours, drivers coming from Los Osos on South Bay Boulevard — and heading northwest toward Morro Bay, Cayucos or Cambria — may turn left on Quintana Road and access Highway 1 from the Morro Bay Boulevard roundabout (or use the roundabout to head toward SLO on Highway 1).
Those headed from Los Osos to San Luis Obispo should turn right on Quintana Road and then enter Highway 1 from the intersection where Quintana becomes San Bernardo Creek Road across Highway 1.
Those driving on Highway 1 from the north to Los Osos should get off at Morro Bay Boulevard and take the roundabout to Quintana.
Drivers coming from SLO and headed to Los Osos can either turn left on Quintana near San Bernardo Creek Road or get off at Morro Bay Boulevard and drive back on Quintana to South Bay Boulevard.
Signage will be posted regarding the detours.
“We want to get the word out so that people will be prepared before the school year resumes and understand the traffic pattern for school drop-offs or going to work,” Collins said.
The road closure is expected to last for eight weeks, weather permitting, with construction scheduled on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Weekend or night work may occur as needed.
“The most important priority obviously is worker safety and traffic safety,” Collins said.
Wastewater treatment work
The wastewater treatment and water reclamation facility is the city’s largest-ever infrastructure program, now estimated to cost $144 million.
The work, which began in early 2020, is expected to be completed in 2023 or 2024, Collins said.
The project will be capable of providing up to 80% of the city’s future water needs, according to city officials, by injecting purified water into the groundwater aquifer for potable use.
“We’re hopeful to get it online on the earlier side of that that time frame (of 2023 or 2024) because the state told the water agencies that take state water that they’re going to send 0% allocation next year,” Collins said. “Of course, that was ahead of this significant rainstorm experience and that could change. But it just highlights the need for water agencies like Morro Bay, that are almost entirely dependent on the state, to find other sources of water.”
According to the city’s website, the project includes construction of a new 1-million-gallon-per-day advanced treatment facility on South Bay Boulevard north of Highway 1, two new lift stations, approximately 3.5 miles of pipelines and injection wells to recycle water, which can be extracted for reuse through the city’s existing infrastructure.
The plant’s current price tag is up from the original target of $126 million.
“The bulk of that increase is related to the regulatory issues,” Collins said. “Some of it is related to supply chain and COVID as well. But we’re hoping we can keep it around that dollar amounts just by saving some some money on completing the treatment plant earlier than expected.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 3:32 PM.
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