Construction begins on Bob Jones project south of San Luis Obispo

Construction is officially underway on one of the San Luis Obispo area's most anticipated trail projects. Crews broke ground Tuesday on the next segment of the Bob Jones Pathway, a multi-use route for bicyclists and pedestrians that county officials say will eventually connect the city of San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach, according to CalCoastNews.

For a trail that locals have used and advocated for over decades, the milestone marks tangible progress on closing a long-standing gap in the region's active transportation network.

What's Being Built Now

The current phase of work focuses on a stretch south of San Luis Obispo, running from the Octagon Barn — the historic structure along South Higuera Street that has long served as a community gathering point and trail staging area — around the southern edge of the city to Clover Ridge Lane.

A future segment, officials said, will extend the pathway from Clover Ridge Lane to the existing Bob Jones trailhead on Ontario Road, tying the new construction into the portion of the trail that already carries walkers, runners and cyclists toward Avila Beach.

The San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department, which is managing the project, announced that construction began Tuesday. Workers are building a multi-use pathway designed to serve both bicyclists and pedestrians.

Funding and Contractor

The county awarded the $10.5 million construction contract to Souza Construction, according to CalCoastNews. The project is being funded through a federal Active Transportation Program grant administered by the California Transportation Commission.

That funding route is significant for local taxpayers: the Active Transportation Program is the state's primary mechanism for disbursing federal dollars toward walking and biking infrastructure, and competition for the grants is fierce among California cities and counties. Securing the money allowed the county to advance the pathway without relying primarily on local funds.

What to Expect Over the Next 18 Months

Construction is anticipated to last up to 18 months, officials said. During that time, drivers traveling through the project area are being asked to obey posted signage or, where practical, to use alternative routes or modes of transportation.

For residents who regularly commute through the corridor near the Octagon Barn and South Higuera Street, that could mean periodic delays or detours stretching well into 2027. Cyclists who currently piece together routes between San Luis Obispo and the Ontario Road trailhead may also need to adjust their rides while the pathway takes shape.

Why the Bob Jones Trail Matters to SLO

The Bob Jones Trail — often called the "path to the sea" — is one of the Central Coast's most beloved recreation corridors. The existing completed portions, including the popular segment along San Luis Obispo Creek between Ontario Road and Avila Beach, draw families, tourists, runners and commuters year-round, offering a flat, scenic route through riparian habitat toward the coast.

For years, the missing link has been the stretch connecting San Luis Obispo proper to that existing trailhead. Completing the segment now under construction — and the follow-on portion to Ontario Road — would allow a user to travel by bike or on foot from the city to the coast without sharing the road with vehicle traffic on Los Osos Valley Road or other busy routes.

Local cycling and trail advocacy groups have long pointed to that gap as both a safety concern and a lost opportunity. A continuous pathway is expected to benefit not just recreation, but also commuters and the area's tourism economy, giving visitors an appealing car-free way to reach Avila Beach and the Octagon Barn area.

The Octagon Barn itself has become an increasingly visible trailhead asset in recent years, anchoring the northern end of the project area and reinforcing the region's identity as a destination for outdoor recreation.

What Comes Next

The current contract covers the Octagon Barn–to–Clover Ridge Lane segment. Officials have identified the Clover Ridge Lane–to–Ontario Road extension as a future phase, meaning full trail connectivity between San Luis Obispo and Avila Beach will depend on that follow-up work being funded and completed.

In the meantime, county officials are asking the public for patience during construction. Motorists should watch for signage, and anyone traveling through the corridor is encouraged to consider alternate routes or transportation options where possible during the anticipated 18-month build.

Residents seeking updates on the project can follow announcements from the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department as construction progresses.

This article is based on reporting by CalCoastNews. Read the original story [here](https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/construction-begins-on-bob-jones-project-south-of-san-luis-obispo/).