South & King Intersection Improvements

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Creating a Safer Route for People who Bike, Drive, and Walk

With feedback from community members who live on or around King Court and recommendations from City staff, the City Council adopted changes to the South Street and King Court Crossing Project. Instead of the originally proposed pedestrian hybrid beacon, the City will install a full traffic signal at this intersection to preserve safe pedestrian and bicycle crossings and improving access for King Court drivers.

Learn more about the project below.

Timeline
What to Expect During Construction
Contact Us

Active construction began in the summer of 2026 and is expected to be complete in late 2026 to early 2027.

Project Overview

The purpose of the South and King Crossing Project is to improve safety and access for all road users at the intersection of South Street and King Court/Street. The project will include installation of a new traffic signal, which will improve access and safety for pedestrians and cyclists traveling to and from nearby Hawthorne Elementary School, Meadow Park, residences, and the King-Nipomo Neighborhood Greenway.

The project will also improve access for motor vehicle drivers accessing South Street from the King Street and King Court neighborhoods, while maintaining reasonable throughput on South Street for drivers, transit, and emergency vehicles, and minimizing potential for cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods.

Key Benefits

Safer pedestrian and school crossings with high‑visibility markings and ADA upgrades
Improved pedestrian priority through lead intervals and illuminated “No Right Turn” signs
Smoother, more predictable traffic flow with a new signal and advance warning signs
Better nighttime visibility with upgraded streetlighting
More accessible intersection with modern curb ramps and audible countdown signals
Clearer navigation from refreshed pavement, striping, and signage
Faster emergency response with signal preemption technology

Stay Informed!

Subscribe and Follow Us

To get regular email updates about this and other transportation projects, subscribe to the "Transportation" and "Downtown" news topic at www.slocity.org/Subscribe.
Visit our Construction and Traffic Updates page for the latest road closures and detours.
Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) for important project updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click each question below to see the related answer.

FAQ Box

How will the traffic signal provide a safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly families and students commuting to nearby Hawthorne Elementary School?

The traffic signal has design elements specifically focused on providing a safe, high-quality crossing experience, including accessible pedestrian signals with countdown timers at all intersection legs, new ADA compliant curb ramps, signal programming to provide Lead Pedestrian Intervals (pedestrian “head start” timing), high-visibility ladder crosswalks at all intersection legs, “TURNING VEHICLES YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS” warning signs, and illuminated “NO RIGHT TURN” signs to restrict turning conflicts during pedestrian “WALK” signals.
What is the project cost?

The total project cost is approximately $660,000, with $500,000 in funding provided via a safety grant from the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG).
Why does the project include a full traffic signal instead of a pedestrian hybrid beacon, as previously planned?

A traffic signal provides the benefit of improving access and safety for drivers accessing South Street from King Street/Court, while still providing high-quality, comfortable signalized crossings for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the South and King intersection. With recent innovations in traffic signal and emergency vehicle technology, a traffic signal can now be advanced without risk of significant delays to emergency vehicle response from nearby Fire Station #1, which was a primary factor in deciding to install a full signal vs. a pedestrian hybrid beacon.
Will the new signal create cut-through traffic or speeding concerns in nearby residential streets?

Speeds and volumes on nearby streets will be monitored closely following installation of the new traffic signal. The separate Higuera Complete Streets Project already includes plans for new traffic calming measures along Exposition Drive and Woodbridge Street, which are expected to lower speeds and potential for cut-through traffic, and will be installed within a few months of the new traffic signal. In addition, the South Broad Street Corridor Planning Project, which is beginning planning work summer or 2026, will include further planning for neighborhood-wide traffic volume and speed management within the nearby Meadow Park neighborhood.

More FAQs

City of San Luis Obispo, CA

FIND A SERVICE

I WANT TO...