Long Beach Approves Shoreline Drive Realignment Project

The city will spend $73 million to consolidate roadways and create a new 22-acre continuous public park space.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in National Parks

Long Beach Approves Shoreline Drive Realignment Project

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Long Beach officials approved a $73 million infrastructure project on October 6, 2026, to move northbound Shoreline Drive. The plan aims to eliminate a high-speed barrier between parks and create 22 acres of continuous green space.

Why it matters

The project addresses long-standing community concerns regarding park accessibility by removing the need for residents to cross a major roadway. It connects two major local parks while improving pedestrian and bike access to the waterfront.

The project budget includes $30 million from a federal Reconnecting Communities grant and $35 million from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority. The city will repay $11.5 million of the transit funds over 10 years.

The players

Long Beach City Council

The legislative body for the city of Long Beach responsible for approving municipal budgets and land-use projects.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority

The transportation agency providing regional transit infrastructure and financial support for major infrastructure improvements.

The details

Engineers will relocate the northbound lanes of Shoreline Drive to run directly alongside southbound lanes near the Los Angeles River. This reconfiguration allows for the construction of a new 4.5-acre park featuring pickleball and basketball courts on a former MTA lot.

October 6, 2026: City Council formally approved the project plan.
Early 2027: Construction begins on the stretch south of Ocean Boulevard.
Before 2028: Construction south of Ocean Boulevard is scheduled to finish.
By 2030: The entire park expansion project is slated for completion.
Fiscal year 2033: The city begins the 10-year repayment of transit authority funds.

Travel Outlook

This project follows a pattern set by the federal Reconnecting Communities grant program by prioritizing the removal of road barriers that divide urban neighborhoods. It reflects a national trend of reconfiguring legacy urban highways to improve park accessibility and non-motorized transit.

Commuters should anticipate construction-related traffic shifts beginning in early 2027 near Ocean Boulevard. Once completed by 2030, residents will gain new access to 22 acres of continuous parkland and dedicated bike paths connecting to the waterfront.

The takeaway

Urban planning initiatives like this demonstrate how roadway realignment can serve as a catalyst for expanding public recreation space. Residents living near the waterfront can expect significant improvements in pedestrian safety and park connectivity over the next several years.