Lane closures begin on University Avenue for bikeway project

Businesses and drivers in Rolando Park brace for heavier congestion during construction.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:48pm

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Starting Monday, a stretch of University Avenue in Rolando Park will be reduced to one lane in each direction as construction continues on the University Bikeway project. Through traffic and left turns will also be closed at several intersections, creating concerns for drivers and nearby businesses who worry the added congestion could impact customer access and sales.

Why it matters

The University Bikeway project aims to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, but the lane closures and construction will likely cause significant traffic delays for drivers and potential disruptions for businesses along the busy corridor.

The details

The construction will take place between 60th and 69th streets on University Avenue. Nearby business owners and customers expressed concerns about the impact of the added congestion, with one nail salon owner worried the "more messy look" could deter customers. A SANDAG engineer noted construction projects can sometimes encounter unexpected underground utility issues that cause delays.

  • Construction begins on Monday, March 17, 2026.
  • Earlier this year, construction took place between Fairmount and Euclid avenues.
  • Last month, shop owners reported delays in construction had already frustrated business sales in the City Heights area.

The players

Laronika Linton

A local resident who regularly drives along University Avenue to get her hair done and is concerned about the added congestion.

Thanh Nguyen

The owner of VIP Nails, a nearby business that could be impacted by the construction and lane closures.

Omar Atayee

A principal engineer with SANDAG, the agency overseeing the University Bikeway project.

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What they’re saying

“Oh, it's just going to be like, I'm in a traffic jam.”

— Laronika Linton, Local resident (nbcsandiego.com)

“Just makes the city more crowded, just more messy look[ing].”

— Thanh Nguyen, Owner, VIP Nails (nbcsandiego.com)

“The challenges with construction like, sometimes, you don't know what you're going to find when you dig things up so sometimes you find utilities that weren't on the plans or marked out anywhere and you have to deal with it because you accidentally hit it.”

— Omar Atayee, Principal Engineer, SANDAG (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

It is not yet clear when this specific stretch of construction on University Avenue will be finished.

The takeaway

The University Bikeway project aims to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, but the lane closures and construction will likely cause significant traffic delays for drivers and potential disruptions for businesses along the busy corridor in Rolando Park.