Moonstone boardwalk improvements to cause some traffic delays

The State of California is improving the popular Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, and that work will cause some road closures during construction on Thursday, May 11.

Boardwalk improvements include demolishing the existing bridge on Wednesday, May 10 – no road closures on that day – and installing beams and beginning work on the new bridge the following day, Thursday, May 11. Bridge construction is expected to be complete by Friday, May 12.

To ensure public safety, there will be temporary road closures along Moonstone Drive between Leffingwell Landing day use and the Windrush Inn in the morning hours.

The northbound lane may be temporarily closed while lifting bridge beams by crane from the transport carrier.

The southbound lane and shoulder will be closed for a portion of the day and will include traffic control to allow southbound and northbound traffic to use the northbound lane.

There are no residences or businesses in the closure portion of the street. Drivers can use Highway 1 to avoid potential delays.

Replacement of the existing bridge is part of the Moonstone Boardwalk Accessibility Improvements project. The boardwalk upgrade will meet accessible trail standards between the north end of the boardwalk at Leffingwell Creek to the Santa Rosa Creek Day-Use area.

Moonstone boardwalk repairs begin

The California Department of Parks and Recreation said that repairs on the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk at Hearst San Simeon State Park began last Thursday. 

The construction will make the 2,243-foot-long boardwalk ADA accessible through flatter re-routes, ADA parking spaces, and more compliant boardwalk surfaces and ramps.

According to the state Parks and Recreation Department, the project will also include several resource-related improvements such as emergent wetland and native plant protection and re-routes, as well as boardwalk relocation away from retreating bluffs.