A project to reconstruct a crumbling staircase near 5990 West Camino de la Costa in La Jolla is making slow progress.
“This is a really important project for La Jolla,” said La Jollan Trace Wilson, who lives near the area and has been working for years to improve the Camino de la Costa stairway, as well as the viewpoint and parking area above it.
The California State Coastal Conservancy unanimously approved on consent the authorization to disburse up to $325,000 to the city of San Diego to conduct a feasibility study for the project Nov 30.
The project would repair the beach access stairway and make potential improvements to the scenic overlook and parking area adjacent to the address.
The stairway is currently in a state of deterioration and repairs are needed to allow for its continued safe use for beach access, according to the report submitted to the conservancy.
“The concrete sidewalls are cracked, eroded, or missing and unable to support handrails,” the reports states; “replacement of the concrete sidewalls and associated handrails and patching of lower steps are needed to restore the stairway to safe and full function.
Without reconstruction, public safety is at risk.
Beach access points like this one at Camino de la Costa are critical for La Jolla and the greater San Diego region, Wilson said, expressing gratitude that this project is moving forward.
“The city of San Diego listened to us and the state found the funding,” he said. “This is an important project to show we’re working together.”
Wilson hopes the attention to the parking area will consider accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, sidewalk condition and more, he said, noting the inclusion of safety improvements will go a long way towards mitigating traffic issues like speeding.
Built in 1983, the Camino de la Costa stairway is heavily used by the public and public safety officials.
The California State Legislature added $2 million to the conservancy’s fiscal year 2022-23 budget to address the stairway’s deterioration.
The authorization of $325,000 to San Diego for a feasibility study is part of that process, the report states.
Once funds are received, the city expects the feasibility study to take about nine months to complete and will include technical studies and recommended options to proceed with the next phase, according to city spokesman Tyler Becker.
Subsequent phases will include design, permitting, and construction.
