City of Long Beach Artesia Great Boulevard Project

Harris provided full construction management services for the City of Long Beach’s transformative 3.2-mile Artesia Boulevard Complete Streets Corridor Improvement Project—one of the City’s largest multi-modal investments in over a decade. As part of the Elevate ’28 infrastructure initiative and aligned with the Safe Streets Long Beach Action Plan, this $44.2 million project modernized a major urban arterial to enhance safety, mobility, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. Funded primarily through Metro grants and Measure A, the corridor improvements represent Long Beach’s commitment to long-term community vitality and multimodal transportation.

Harris’ Construction Manager, Michael Te, oversaw the delivery of this complex, multi-agency project, coordinating with City departments, utility agencies, community partners, and project stakeholders. Our team managed roadway and complete streets construction, field inspection activities, contractor direction, encroachment permitting, schedule/submittal reviews, change management, and budget oversight. Through strategic negotiation and risk management, Michael reduced several contractor change order requests, ultimately saving the City an estimated $250,000 to $400,000.

Core Elements

The corridor’s improvements required close coordination with multiple City departments, transit providers, and adjacent neighborhoods to safely execute work across highly traveled intersections and multimodal facilities. Major elements of the project included the installation of protected Class IV bike lanes and enhanced intersections, upgraded ADA-compliant crosswalks, rehabilitated sidewalks, and roadway resurfacing, along with smart traffic signals and new pedestrian safety lighting. The improvements also incorporated approximately 400 drought-tolerant street trees, landscaped medians, and biofiltration basins to reduce stormwater runoff, as well as upgraded transit amenities across 19 bus stops to enhance comfort, safety, and accessibility. Given the dense urban setting, Harris supported extensive stakeholder outreach and field coordination to maintain mobility, minimize business disruptions, and prepare inspection teams for upcoming contract work.

Harris provided comprehensive construction management services across all project phases, including:

• Managing the roadway and complete streets inspection team

• Coordinating with project stakeholders and acquiring encroachment permits

• Overseeing contractor performance in accordance with plans and specifications

• Reviewing the project schedule, progress payments, RFIs, and submittals

• Leading weekly coordination meetings and preparing field teams for forecasted work

• Administering and negotiating change orders, resulting in significant cost savings

• Supporting the City through construction closeout and final acceptance

Beyond the Blueprints

The project reached completion in May 2025 and culminated in a community ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring an Uptown bike ride and the unveiling of a new mural beneath SR-91—funded through a Clean California Local Grant.

More than a roadway upgrade, this effort served as Long Beach’s most substantial Complete Streets project in over ten years and established a model for future multi-modal corridor investments. By revitalizing Artesia Boulevard, the City strengthened safety, mobility, and identity for the Uptown community while advancing its commitment to equitable, sustainable transportation.