Balboa Island bridge closing nightly through Wednesday for water line maintenance

Balboa Island residents returning home late in the evening will have to ferry back to the enclave over the next few nights as the Balboa Island bridge will be closed several hours nightly through Wednesday for construction and repairs to the main water line that serves the island.

In an alert to residents issued Saturday, the city announced the closures would be begin Sunday and run through Wednesday, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day. Construction will take place between Onyx Avenue and the Grand Canal on the north bayfront. It will cross Marine Avenue.

The city has arranged with the ferry operators to keep the boats running overnight throughout the period.

City officials said construction was scheduled for nighttime hours to minimize impacts on businesses along Marine Avenue and that the work is being done ahead of the Balboa Island utility undergrounding projects.

The assessment district for Central Balboa Island was approved in July 2021. Another assessment district for the area along Santa Ana Avenue between Old Newport Boulevard and Cliff Drive was approved in April of the same year. Average assessment costs were estimated to be around $35,000 in 2022.

The undergrounding work is expected to be completed in 2027.

Emergency vehicles will be able to access the island if necessary during this week’s nightly closures, according to the city.