Carson officials marked the start of a reconstruction project Wednesday aimed at leveling and stabilizing M.L.K. Jr. Street, a roadway known locally as the “rollercoaster road” because the ground beneath it settled over a former landfill.
The project will address conditions beneath the road, rather than simply repave it. Crews will excavate several feet into the roadway’s sub-base, complete specialized grading and stabilization, build a reinforced structural foundation and install new heavy-duty asphalt to establish a smooth, durable grade, according to the city.
The street’s uneven surface developed over nearly five decades as the former landfill beneath it gradually settled and shifted, the city said. Advances in engineering have made a comprehensive solution possible, city officials said.
“This project is about getting the job done right and putting safety first for our residents,” City Manager David C. Roberts Jr. said. “While underground conditions always require ongoing attention, strengthening the road from the ground up gives us a solid foundation and a proactive maintenance plan to keep M.L.K. Jr. Street safe and accessible.”
Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said the project also honors the legacy of the street’s namesake.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for dignity and excellence, and the street that carries his name should reflect those exact same values,” she said. “For nearly 50 years, engineering constraints kept us from a permanent fix — but today, we are taking bold action to honor Dr. King’s legacy with the level street our residents deserve.”
M.L.K. Jr. Street is the only Carson roadway named after a major national civic leader, according to the city.
After reconstruction, the corridor will be added to the city’s regular infrastructure maintenance program. The work is intended to create a safer, smoother and more reliable route for residents, businesses and commuters, city officials said.