SLO County to add crosswalks and bike lanes to popular beach access road
The main road into the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area will get a makeover in the coming years.
Pier Avenue connects Highway 1 to the drivable stretch of beach in Oceano. The less-than half-mile stretch of road was designed to accommodate increased tourist traffic, but, as a result, is less catered toward bikes and pedestrians, according to a project staff report to improve the road design.
Now, the Pier Avenue Corridor Plan, presented to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, will add buffered bike lanes and marked crosswalks while preserving street parking and vehicular beach access.
The work area on Pier Avenue — spanning from the highway to the beach — will also include improvements at two stop-sign operated intersections at Norswing Drive and a five-way intersection at Pier and Lakeside avenues and Air Park Drive.
Road improvements will be implemented in phases. Because Phase 1 only involves surface markings and signage, it will be included in and funded through an already planned repaving project set for mid-2026, SLO County civil engineer John Waddell told The Tribune. Later phases will require board approval down the line.
During repaving and Phase 1 improvements, Pier Avenue will be restriped to reduce the road from four lanes to three between the beach and Norswing Drive, according to the project plan.
Two lanes will head West toward the beach and one lane will head east toward Highway 1.
Curb ramp improvements — included painted crosswalks — will also be made at these intersections to emulate the pedestrian crossings at the Highway 1 intersection.
A buffered bike lane will also be added to both sides of Pier Avenue along the entire stretch. Parking spaces will be marked on both sides of the street.
No changes will be made other than routine repaving between Norswing Drive and Highway 1.
Waddell said he does not forsee Pier Avenue being fully closed at any time during the work.
With no immediate funding sources, Phases 2 and 3 would have to come back in front of the board for a vote at a later time.
Phase 2 would add curb extensions to shorten the pedestrian crossing distances at the intersections of Pier Avenue with Lakeside Avenue, Air Park Drive and Norswing Drive.
Phase three would add a separated pedestrian and bike trail on the north side of Pier Avenue from the highway to the ocean, which may result in the loss of some parking spaces depending on the final design. The five-way intersection would also be evaluated for a proper buildout. Another mid-block crosswalk would be added on Pier Avenue between Airpark and Norswing Drives.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
CORRECTION: This article has been updated to reflect that in Phase 1 Pier Avenue will be reduced to three lanes, with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane.
