Balboa bridge will narrow during construction

June Casagrande

Beautification of the Balboa Island Bridge could become, for a while,

a beast when traffic is restricted to one lane.

Lane closure could begin in a few weeks and would take place during

the contractor’s normal work hours there, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. While

one lane is closed, a worker will direct traffic in the remaining open

lane. Newport Beach has given contractor Pima Corp. permission to close

one lane during a portion of the day for up to 20 days, though it’s

likely they won’t need that many days, said Lloyd Dalton of the city’s

Public Works Department.

The $303,300 job includes a stone veneer covering the entrance walls

of the bridge, matching the walls at the intersection of Bayside Drive

and Jamboree Road. Five aluminum street light poles will be removed and

replaced with eight concrete poles with outlets for decorative lighting.

An irrigation system will be installed to water plants that will

eventually be in planters on light poles. Bridge railings will be

replaced with new black railings, and the North Bay Front stairway

handrails will also be replaced.

All work is expected to be finished by the end of May.