No Roundabout for Harbor and Herondo

A roundabout will not be installed at the intersection of Harbor Drive and Herondo Street—at least, not in the near future, according to plans for the  Gateway Improvement Project approved last Tuesday by a unanimous Redondo Beach City Council.

The plan calls for reconfiguring North Harbor Drive to add an on-street cycle track; reconfiguring Herondo Street to remove one travel lane, add a bike lane and add head-out angle parking in each direction; resurfacing North Harbor Drive and Herondo Street; creating a new park in part of Lot 13, the parking lot at the intersection of Yacht Club Way and North Harbor Drive; and beautifying the harbor gateway.

The Lot 13 reconstruction will involve tearing down the wall at the end of the Hermosa Beach Strand and routing the bicycle path onto the cycle track at North Harbor Drive.

"This was an opportunity for us to create … an entry plaza … and we've now proposed something like that," said Public Works Director Mike Witzansky.

The roundabout was the subject of much debate, with many saying that it could be dangerous for cyclists.

The majority of speakers at the city council meeting supported the plan that the council approved.

Construction is expected to commence in January 2014, depending on funding.