Improvements Slated for Sepulveda Blvd.

Caltrans is planning relief for the 56,000 drivers who travel a 1.8-mile stretch of Sepulveda Boulevard in El Segundo and Manhattan Beach each day--but not for at least two years.

As part of a $2.5-million project, about one mile of Sepulveda, between Rosecrans Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard, will be widened from six to eight lanes. Sepulveda is a major route for South Bay residents who work for aerospace companies in El Segundo.

The California Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration will pay most of the cost. Manhattan Beach has allocated $100,000, and El Segundo expects to pay about $800,000 to relocate utilities and obtain rights of way.

Caltrans and the cities will split the cost of coordinating traffic signals.

Lane Added

As part of the project, a second left-turn lane will be added in all directions at the intersections of Rosecrans Avenue and Sepulveda. The intersection of 33rd Street and Sepulveda, an entrance to the Manhattan Village Mall, also will get additional left-turn lanes.

Second left-turn lanes also will be added from southbound Sepulveda onto El Segundo Boulevard and onto Marine Avenue.

Right-turn-only lanes will be added on Rosecrans to Sepulveda in both directions and from northbound Sepulveda onto eastbound Rosecrans.

Road construction probably will begin in late 1989 after utility lines are relocated, which should take about two years, according to Bob Wallin, Caltrans senior transportation engineer.

Officials would not estimate how long construction will take.

El Segundo will have to relocate Southern California Edison Co. utility lines and possibly part of Los Angeles County’s fresh-water barrier project, a series of wells connected by pipes designed to prevent underground salt water seepage, said John Allen, an assistant city engineer for El Segundo.

No Relocation

Manhattan Beach should not have to relocate any utility lines, said Carl Abel, public works director.

The California Transportation Commission and the Federal Highway Administration have approved the project in concept, but cannot allocate funds until they approve an environmental review document, said Rick Simon, Caltrans environmental planner.

The review showed no significant environmental impact, he said, so funding approval should not be a problem.

Caltrans will hold an open house to discuss the project and display preliminary plans from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Joslyn Community Center, 1601 Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach.