Long Beach : City Rejects Request for Barricade on Pacific Avenue

City officials thwarted a neighborhood’s effort to block off one of its streets from traffic Tuesday, telling an audience of more than 350 residents that officials must first review the city’s other traffic projects.

Members of the Los Cerritos Improvement Assn. had hoped the city would begin studying its request to shut down Pacific Avenue at the San Diego Freeway (405) underpass, just north of Wardlow Road. State law requires that a city study the traffic and public safety impacts of a barricade before it shuts down a street.

Some residents contend a barricade would stop cars from using Pacific as a shortcut and make their neighborhood safer. “It is not our intent to gate off the community,” said Mike Kowal, president of the Los Cerritos group. “We’re willing to give up direct access on Wardlow Road to protect our kids and support our quality of life.”