City Council approves Firestone Boulevard overhaul

DOWNEY - A plan to redevelop a 1.25 mile stretch of Firestone Boulevard into a safer and pedestrian-friendly corridor is moving forward after the City Council on Tuesday authorized the project to be put out to bid.City officials hope that by adding median islands to Firestone between Old River School Road and Brookshire Avenue traffic collisions will decrease while also making the boulevard more pleasing to the eye. Between La Reina and Dolan avenues, crews will install ornamental street lighting, median landscaping with palm trees, benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks, bus shelters, trees and decorative sidewalks. The roadway will also be replaced with new asphalt to better handle the nearly 40,000 cars that travel Firestone every day. The entire project is estimated at $5.7 million. Formerly State Route 42, Firestone Boulevard was relinquished by the state to Downey in 1992 and has since never undergone pavement rehabilitation, said public works director John Oskoui.

********** Published: January 24, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 41