Delays prolong construction at Bolsa Chica State Beach

Danette Goulet

Major delays have put the overhaul of Bolsa Chica State Beach far

behind schedule.

With spring here and summer fast approaching, many have begun to

wonder when the reconstruction will be completed. Surfers eye the signs

closing the north end of the beach with trepidation, worrying that soon

the south end, with its superior surf, would be next. But contractor Mark

Weeger, of Weeger Bros. Inc. assures beach enthusiasts that the north end

will open within weeks and the south end construction will be done lot by

lot.

“The north half, everything but the buildings will be open to the

public,” Weeger said citing April 26 as the big day.

The only reason the buildings can’t open, he explained, is that there

is no power due to conflicts between the state and the Edison Company.

But Edison is expected to start working on site April 22.

The completion date for the project was originally March 19, but the

state has reconfigured plans in many areas, Weeger said.

“In essence what it comes down to is the state got this money really

quickly and only had so long to use this Safe Water Clean Parks Act

money,” he said. “The design phase was three to four months when normally

you want 12 months for design.”

Construction on the north end will be complete in less than two weeks.

Edison is expected to have the power up and running by the time camping

season opens in June. But no new date has been set for a completion of

the south end.

“At this point I’m really leery to say a date,” Weeger said.