Hwy. 101 exit at Avila Beach reopens with new roundabout. See the photos
The 40-day closure of the Highway 101 interchange at Avila Beach Drive will come to an end on Saturday, with a new roundabout to show for it.
The San Luis Obispo County-led efforts to replace the five-legged intersection at the Highway 101 southbound ramp, Avila Beach Drive and Shell Beach Road began in April of 2024, progressing in four construction phases since then.
In this most recent stage, which began Aug. 18, the interchange and surrounding highway exits and on-ramps were closed to traffic to allow for the construction of the central portion of the roundabout, according to the project website.
The work included constructing the roundabout curb, gutters, medians, a center island and sidewalk on Avila Beach Drive. Road paving, traffic striping, signage and lighting was also installed.
San Luis Bay Dive and Spy Glass Road both remained open during the closure, and a temporary bike and pedestrian path bypassed the construction zone.
With the roundabout opening, phase five of construction will begin on the adjoining Park and Ride facility, with 43 parking spaces, an RTA bus stop and a stop for the Avila-Pismo trolley, Project manager Aaron Yonker previously told the Tribune.
The roundabout will remain open to traffic during construction of the Park and Ride, which will conclude and wrap up the project in Janruary.
The nearly $14 million project was funded by multiple federal and state grants, with only $600,000 coming from the county’s general fund.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 9:37 AM.
