Major upgrade for Hillcrest crosswalk

A crosswalk in Hillcrest is getting upgraded after reports of serious accidents and complaints from residents. The crosswalk with no traffic light is at the southeast corner of Park Boulevard and Cypress Avenue, near the Embassy Hotel (at 3645 Park Avenue).

The contractor for the project — “Park Boulevard and Cypress Avenue pop-outs and lighted crosswalk” — is Atlas Development of Solana Beach. Their winning bid was $230,869. Completion is slated for July, with a total project cost of $433,000, according to the city's capital-improvements program web page.

Julie Smith has lived in a condo on Park Boulevard since 2006. Smith says she knows of “two deaths in this crosswalk.” She said she received a letter from the city in October, letting the neighborhood know what was happening. The letter informed them that the project would be done by February, Smith said.

“The poor city; don't over-promise those deadlines,” she added. “But we're just so happy something realistic is going in here. This is a deadly place,” Smith said, pointing to the crosswalk as vehicles went by fast, most likely over the speed limit. Smith said she had complained about the crosswalk back when assembly speaker–elect Toni Atkins was the District 3 city councilmember.

A flashing crosswalk was completed a while back on University Avenue at Alabama Street in North Park. Total cost was $375,000. University Avenue is another busy thoroughfare, where pedestrians often cross where there's no crosswalk, especially at Louisiana Street by Albertsons.