Board OKs plans to move Laguna Canyon Road utilities underground

Bryce Alderton

The county will pay almost $4 million to bury utility lines when

widening begins on Laguna Canyon Road, the Board of Supervisors decided

Tuesday.

The $4 million will be used on a portion of the road from El Toro Road

to the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road. The work is expected to begin next

year.

The state’s Public Utilities Commission requires utility lines to be

buried at the time of road construction for a county improvement project.

The board identified the Laguna Canyon project as its No. 1 priority

as part of a seven-year county program to move utility lines underground.

Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson, whose district includes Laguna Beach, has

asked staff to notify him within two weeks about possible funding

sources to secure $3 million needed for additional utility line

conversions on Laguna Canyon Road from the toll road to Southern

California Edison Company’s transfer line.

“I feel confident that we can [get the money],” Wilson said.

The board also voted Tuesday to form an underground utility district

to help with the realignment project on Laguna Canyon Road.

The board expects to hold a public hearing and select an underground

utility district by the end of June to give Southern California Edison

time to design utility conversions that meet the roadway widening

schedule.