Work Has Begun on Mirada Surf Trail at Surfer's Beach

Bye-bye old parking lot at Surfer's Beach.

Half Moon Bay city workers were busy Tuesday digging it up, preparing the area for a whole new look.

By the end of January 2014, Coastsiders will have a brand new portion of the Mirada Surf Coastal Trail at Coronado Street in El Granada, connecting the pedestrian and bike path from Miramar along a gap of land along Surfer's Beach.

The project is separate from the erosion problem at Surfer's Beach, however, and does not include improvements to the embankment leading down to Surfer's Beach or address the proposed sand-dredging project in Pillar Point Harbor with the Army Corps of Engineers.

The current work being done is the third phase of the Mirada Surf Coastal Trail project and is expected to cause some delays in the area from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The land is within City of Half Moon Bay and CalTrans Highway 1 Right of Way jurisdiction and continues the Coastal Trail north to an improved trail crossing at the intersection of the west side of Highway 1 at Coronado. The Coastal Trail will continue 40 feet north of Highway 1 and Coronado, said Sam Herzberg, senior planner for San Mateo County Parks Department. 

Any car access west of Highway 1 at Coronado will be completely sealed off. A detour path allows bikers and pedestrians access to the trail and beach.

The first two phases of the Mirada Surf West section of the multi-use California Coastal Trail involved a bridge across a creek near Magellan Avenue and the Coastal Trail to the boundary of City of Half Moon Bay and CalTrans Highway 1 Right of Way jurisdiction. 

According to Herzberg, an ADA accessible bathroom will be installed at the Magellan end of the Mirada Surf Trail. The project does not involve a parking lot.

Funding for these improvements are from both the California Coastal Conservancy and Midcoast Park Building Fees, which are generated by new construction and remodels in the Midcoast as collected by the County Building Department for park improvements. Also, funding from a Command Oil Spill grant administered by the California State Lands Commission will also be used.  

"These projects will complete Mirada Surf West improvements," said Herzberg. "County Parks will continue to mow regularly to control the Bristly ox tongue infestation."