Construction & Access

The Plaza de Panama project was approved by the City Council on July 9, 2012.  While construction was scheduled to begin in Fall 2012, the Plaza de Panama Committee has postponed the start of construction until mid-February 2013 to allow for the resolution of litigation filed by project opponents.  Construction on the project is scheduled to be complete in early October 2014, in time for the 2015 Centennial Celebration in Balboa Park. 

The construction phasing for the project has been highly sequenced to provide continued access to Balboa Park and its attractions throughout construction.  The phasing ensures that two-way vehicle traffic through the park and access to institutions is maintained. 

The construction phases, durations and areas impacted are described below and in this two-page overview.
 

PHASE 1:  UTILITY RELOCATION

Timeline:  Mid-February through March 2013
Duration:  6 weeks
Areas impacted:  East side of Organ Pavilion Parking Lot, northern portion of Pan American Road West
Access:  Through traffic will continue as it does today

PHASE 2A:  ORGAN PAVILION PARKING STRUCTURE, TEMPORARY ROAD, TUNNEL DECK, CENTENNIAL BRIDGE

Timeline:  April through June 2013
Duration:  3 months
Areas impacted:  Organ Pavilion Parking Lot, Pan American Road East, Archery Range in Cabrillo Canyon
Access:  Free tram service begins between Inspiration Point and the Plaza de Panama - service anticipated between 6 am-12 am approximately every 10-15 minutes; through traffic maintained using Pan American Road West and Pan American Place (roads around International Cottages)

PHASE 2B:  ORGAN PAVILION PARKING STRUCTURE, ROOFTOP PARK, CENTENNIAL BRIDGE

Timeline:  Late June 2013 through April 2014
Duration:  10 months
Areas impacted:  Organ Pavilion Parking Lot, Archery Range in Cabrillo Canyon
Access:  Free tram service continues between Inspiration Point and the Plaza de Panama - service anticipated from 6 am-12 am approximately every 10-15 minutes; through traffic returns to Pan American Road East (same route that is used today)

PHASE 3:  ALCAZAR PARKING LOT & UTILITY RELOCATION

Timeline:  Mid-March through Mid-June 2014
Duration:  3 months
Areas impacted:  Alcazar Parking Lot
Access:  Free tram service continues between Inspiration Point and Plaza de Panama - service anticipated between 6 am-12 am approximately every 10-15 minutes; through traffic continues as it does today

PHASE 4:  PLAZAS, ESPLANADE & PROMENADE

Timeline:  Mid-June through early October 2014
Duration:  3 1/2 months
Areas impacted:  (work will be sequenced to ensure access to institutions) Plaza de California, West El Prado, Plaza de Panama, Esplanade, Pan American Promenade (formerly Pan American Road)
Access:  Alcazar parking lot open for disabled parking, drop-off and valet service; Organ Pavilion parking structure open; free tram service continues between parking structure and Plaza de Panama - service hours to be determined (construction will be sequenced to allow tram access to Plaza de Panama, as possible); through traffic uses Centennial Bridge and Road

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  UPDATES WILL BE POSTED REGULARLY.