New Leisure World Road Makes for Less Traffic and Faster Paramedics

For many in Leisure World, the reopening of North Gate Road isn’t just a traffic and time-saver, it’s a life-safer.

The road recently reopened, and Seal Beach and Leisure World leaders held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to mark the completion of a nearly yearlong $750,000 improvement project. One of only three entrances into Leisure World, North Gate Road is the street that connects Leisure World with the nearby fire station that serves it. Paramedics and firefighters respond to roughly 8 to 10 calls for help in Leisure World each day, and the few minutes of travel time saved by the new road can be a matter of life or death, said Fire Captain Skip Hawkins, of the Orange County Fire Authority.

“Now that it is completed, it makes our response to Leisure World much quicker,” said Hawkins. “We don’t have to cross as much traffic, so it cuts off two to three minutes, and for someone who is critically ill or in full arrest, time is of the essence.”

Formerly called Beverly Manor Road, the street was renamed, widened and repaved and two dedicated bike lanes, curbs and gutters were added, said Seal Beach Public Works Director Sean Crumby. The project took an  additional six months to complete because an underground gas vault had to be relocated.

The new road is safer for byclists and for drivers, said Seal Beach Mayor Michael Levitt.

 “People were really looking forward to the reopening,” he said. “It offers a huge increase in safety.”

Leisure World resident Nancy Floid is just glad to escape the bottleneck of traffic in front of the community’s main entrance on Seal Beach Boulevard.

“I was mad because I had to drive an extra two miles out of my way because of the construction,” said Floid. “It took so long to go anywhere. You’d go buy milk and have to sit in traffic to get home. It’s nice that the road is open again. I am very happy.”