Long Beach is gearing up for its longest-ever corridor makeover, transforming more than five miles of Studebaker Road from Second Street to Carson Street.

Ceremonial shovels already hit the dirt, and the real digging begins later this fall, with the multi-year Studebaker Road Transformation Project expected to wrap up in fall 2027. When it’s done, the commuter route will be revitalized into a showcase for what modern streets can be: safer, greener and more efficient.

The project will benefit all types of commuters. For drivers, roadways will be resurfaced, intersections will be redesigned with new and more efficient traffic signals, and crosswalks near schools will include rapid flashing beacons. For pedestrians, sidewalks and ramps will meet ADA standards, bike riders will get protected lanes and shared-use paths, and bus riders can expect shady new shelters and boarding islands. Crossing the street will even take less time, thanks to shortened crossing distances.

Sustainability measures also are central to the project. The plan includes more energy efficient traffic signals as well as more than 100 new trees, 2,000 shrubs, landscaped medians and even a stormwater biofiltration system to improve water quality will be installed.

Additionally, new fiber-optic lines will be added along the route, filling a gap in the City’s fiber loop by expanding high-speed connectivity for community facilities part of the Citywide Fiber Network Infrastructure Initiative.

The project also touches neighboring Loynes Drive, where the existing bike lane between Studebaker and Pacific Coast Highway will be upgraded with protective barriers and delineators, offering a safer, more comfortable ride.

City leaders are calling the $64.4 million project a once-in-a-generation investment—not just in asphalt and concrete, but in quality of life. The improvements, paid for with a mix of state and federal dollars, are designed to make Studebaker Road a true connector, linking neighborhoods, schools, parks and businesses across East Long Beach.

Until then, residents and commuters will need a little patience while crews work their way through the corridor.

More information about construction will be announced in the coming weeks and any significant public facing impacts from this construction will be communicated in advance at longbeach.gov/studebakerproject.

The Studebaker Road Transformation Project joins the City’s other major corridor improvements, including the recently completed Artesia Great Boulevard Project and the Market Street Improvements Project.