Long Beach officials have begun installing a heavy metal fence at the entrance to the Jergins Tunnel beneath Ocean Boulevard. The action aims to prevent unauthorized access and reduce incidents of fires and vandalism inside the structure.
The tunnel has drawn increased use by unhoused individuals in recent years, according to LAist. Firefighters responded to at least four blazes there since 2022, leaving behind damaged belongings and temporary shelters.
Local business owner Brett Ales noted that conditions near the entrance had deteriorated to the point of producing a noticeable odor. City Public Works spokesperson Jocelin Padilla stated the fence is intended to “improve site security, reduce the potential for vandalism and fires and help protect the structural integrity of the tunnel.”
Work on the barrier has already required $156,200 in spending on materials and labor. Completion is projected for mid-to-late September, though the total cost has not been disclosed.
Built in 1927 to connect pedestrians to the Pike amusement park, the 181-foot tunnel was sealed after Ocean Boulevard was widened in 1967. It gained renewed attention following a 2022 song by Lana Del Rey that referenced its features.
City leaders had previously approved plans to incorporate the tunnel into a speakeasy and music venue beneath a proposed 31-story Hard Rock Hotel. Construction was slated to start in 2024, but the project has not advanced and permits are nearing expiration.
A separate fence erected around the Billie Jean King Main Library cost $811,449 and has reduced encampments on the terrace. A citizens advisory committee on homelessness later argued that the funds would have been better directed toward housing rather than exclusion measures.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/long-beach-fencing-off-tunnel-under-ocean-boulevard