Southern California - San Gabriel River Bike Trail (SGRT) Construction Alert - 07/09 to 12/14/2012

Signs are now posted along SGRT between Carson St. and Artesia Blvd. regarding an improvement project, closures, and detour route.

258770


SAN GABRIEL RIVER BIKE TRAIL IMPROVEMENT
This bike trail is subject to temporary closures between Carson St. and Artesia Bl.
from 07/09/12 to 12/14/12
Please follow the detour route
For information contact: LA County Department of Public Works at 626-458-2191


This appears to be phase 4 - a continuation of improvement projects to SGRT. This one will straighten out and widen at least one of the underpasses - 183rd St - just like they did the underpass at Del Amo Blvd. last year. Right now the 183rd underpass is pretty narrow and angles off so that you can't see through it and to the other side.

It seems other underpasses will also get treatment, but I can't find related information on the department's website. I did find information about 183rd on the City of Cerritos website: http://www.cerritos.us/NEWS_INFO/news_press_releases/2012/june/bike_trail.php

And here's information about the completed phase 3: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/General/ConstructionContracts/cons/ProjectDetailActive.aspx?project_id=RDC0015064.


UPDATED INFO AS OF 06/28/2012 1750HRS
Per my contact with José R. Pou, PE, LACDPW Construction Division, there are 2 separate projects:


San Gabriel River Trail Bicycle Trail Improvement, Phase 3 – Reconstruction of the bicycle trail from 355 ft. south of Del Amo Blvd to Carson St. Work is anticipated to start by 7/16/12 & be completed by 10/16/12. That portion of the trail will be closed to the public during construction.
.
San Gabriel River Trail Bicycle Trail Improvement, Phase 4 – 183rd St tunnel realignment. Work is anticipated to start by 7/9/12 & be completed by 12/14/12. The tunnel portion of the trail will be closed to the public during construction.

All they need to do now is post signs warning of muggers hiding in the underpasses.

All they need to do now is post signs warning of muggers hiding in the underpasses.

Not too big an issue on high traffic weekends. I do get nervous riding it solo during the week. I did have a near miss on one of those narrow underpasses near 183rd. My fault, I took it too fast. Still, it would be nice to see them widened. I
wouldn't want to be in a head on with someone who is as inexperienced as I was.

All they need to do now is post signs warning of muggers hiding in the underpasses.
You are more liable to collide with somebody in one of those underpasses than you are getting mugged on the SGRT. Its a safer MUP than the SART.

I work a lot of weekends, so most of my riding is midweek solo. I used to ride the SGRT frequently, but once you get above Liberty Park the area turns sketchy. I remember riding alone midweek up in area where the trail goes under the 91 and the 5, and I was the only cyclist there....it was an unsettling feeling.

I hope they widen the Whittier underpass too then - that thing is positively claustrophobic.

Still, the end results should be quite nice. Can't wait.

What will the detour be?

What will the detour be?
I just heard back from someone at LACDPW about the project. See the updated original post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/828550-San-Gabriel-River-Bike-Trail-(SGRT)-Construction-Alert-07-09-to-12-14-2012?p=14416437&viewfull=1#post14416437).

It doesn't appear there's a project page on the dpw.lacounty.gov (http://dpw.lacounty.gov/) website just yet. You can keep watching for it and expect the detour info to be posted there.

My guess is you'll have to get off of SGRT on the south side of Del Amo right where it meets Studebaker Rd. The detour will be northbound Studebaker Rd. to Artesia Blvd., west on Artesia Blvd. back to SGRT via the north side entry.

Thanks for the bypass idea. As an aside, I was on the Coyote Creek trail earlier this month and the bypass they have isn't that great (take Carmenita north over the 5. I found Valley View easier) !!

Thanks for the update. Good to know

Hello everyone, I just bought my first beginner road bike, getting into bikeing for fitness, I was researching regarding San Gabriel River bike trail and would like to know if there are any incident of mugging or the likes, I am planning on a weekend early morning workout before it gets too hot. How is the ride going south from Liberty Park? Is it safe all the way to the end? Thank you for your feedback.

Liberty park going south is ez cruising. Safe, nothing to worry about.

Thanks :thumb:

Yup....from Liberty Park to the ocean is the "good part of town." Plus, on the weekend, you'll have plenty of company--tons of cyclists on that section.

Hello everyone, I just bought my first beginner road bike, getting into bikeing for fitness, I was researching regarding San Gabriel River bike trail and would like to know if there are any incident of mugging or the likes, I am planning on a weekend early morning workout before it gets too hot. How is the ride going south from Liberty Park? Is it safe all the way to the end? Thank you for your feedback.

I've been riding 20+ years: SGRT, SART, Coyote Creek, Compton, South L.A., Long Beach, San Pedro... If you're going to get mugged, it's because you're not paying attention, not going fast enough, and/or riding at night when the chance of thuggery anywhere goes up.

To answer your question, yes, south of Liberty Park is pretty safe. If you'd like more input, consider starting another thread.

Some years ago I was headed southbound on the SGRT and was approaching the RR underpass just south of Beverly. It was a corner that you really can't see until you're on top of it. I'm doing about 20 mph when I see three taggers under the bridge. Nothing to do at that point so I call out, speed up and expect to at least get sprayed as I pass. Well lo and behold when I called out, they stopped spraying, moved back out of the way, let me pass and.... went back to tagging. Polite taggers. Who knew?:lol:

I'm not sure where the part of SGRT is exactly but there is a sign to not go thru the tunnel if the area is flooded....the tunnel is rather long, NARROW and dark. I avoided going thru it both times on my way North...and had to wait forever at the street to cross due to a ton of traffic on a rather busy street. Coming back south the first time I decided to go thru the tunnel and two dudes came out as I approached riding recumbant trikes which pretty much took up all the width of the tunnel. I rode thru and it was dark and scary so I determined not to ride thru it until it has been widened at the very least.

I have been riding and running these supposedly unsafe areas for years. Where do all these stories come from? C'mon folks, stop feeding the hysteria...:) Seen a few squirrels get mashed, though...

I just heard back from someone at LACDPW about the project. See the updated original post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/828550-San-Gabriel-River-Bike-Trail-%28SGRT%29-Construction-Alert-07-09-to-12-14-2012?p=14416437&viewfull=1#post14416437).

It doesn't appear there's a project page on the dpw.lacounty.gov (http://dpw.lacounty.gov/) website just yet. You can keep watching for it and expect the detour info to be posted there.

My guess is you'll have to get off of SGRT on the south side of Del Amo right where it meets Studebaker Rd. The detour will be northbound Studebaker Rd. to Artesia Blvd., west on Artesia Blvd. back to SGRT via the north side entry.Detour southbound from Artesia appears to be Palo Verde. That's the way the signs are posted.

I have been riding and running these supposedly unsafe areas for years. Where do all these stories come from? C'mon folks, stop feeding the hysteria...:) Seen a few squirrels get mashed, though...

I ride all the time alone but not at night but not riding at night is true of me for most everywhere I ride. I have seen some homeless but none have bothered me or tried to stop me.

I HAVE seen the suicidal thrill seeking squirrels try to beat the bikes and have seen the aftermath of not making it.

Detour southbound from Artesia appears to be Palo Verde. That's the way the signs are posted.
Confirmed. Rode it today (didn't get mugged) and trail is officially closed from South St.
to Artesia Blvd. to accommodate the 183rd underpass work.

You can go around the CLOSED signs and continue up or down to 183rd and get off to the street... for now. Expect at some point the construction will includes fixing those entry/exit points much like Del Amo.

But have no fear! I simply recommend riding down and then back up the embankment to avoid the official detour and construction and to most quickly get on your way.