LEUCADIA — With a ceremonial turn of the shovel on Wednesday morning, the long-awaited Leucadia Streetscape project officially broke ground on Coast Highway 101, launching a multi-year construction effort that will reshape the look, feel, and function of one of North County's most iconic corridors. City officials, community leaders, and residents gathered near the intersection of Leucadia Boulevard and the 101 to mark the milestone.
The $22 million project will transform a 1.2-mile stretch of Highway 101 through the heart of Leucadia, adding protected bike lanes, widened sidewalks, improved stormwater drainage, new landscaping, and roundabouts to calm traffic. The plan has been in development for over a decade, surviving multiple redesigns, community workshops, and contentious council debates before finally reaching the construction phase.
Mayor Catherine Blakespear acknowledged at the groundbreaking ceremony that the journey had been long and that many people had strong feelings about the project. But when completed, she said, Leucadia will be safer, more walkable, and more beautiful — honoring the funky, independent character of the neighborhood while making it work better for everyone.
Mixed Reactions Along the Corridor
Not everyone along the 101 shares the mayor's enthusiasm. Some business owners worry that years of construction will drive away customers, while others question whether the roundabouts and road diet will actually improve traffic flow or simply create new congestion patterns.
- Supporters say: The project will make the 101 safer for pedestrians and cyclists, reduce speeding, and beautify the corridor with native landscaping and improved drainage.
- Critics argue: The loss of parking spaces, years of construction disruption, and narrowed travel lanes will hurt businesses and frustrate drivers.
Local business owners along the corridor expressed support for improving the 101 but nervousness about the construction period. Two years of torn-up streets, they worried, would be hard on small businesses. Many said they hoped the city would follow through on its promise to help them through the transition.
Construction is expected to take approximately 24 months, with the first phase focusing on underground utility work and drainage improvements before the visible streetscape changes begin. The project is funded through a combination of SANDAG TransNet funds, state grants, and city capital improvement dollars.