Creating Traffic Relief, The Verdin Way

Anyone who lives in San Luis Obispo undoubtedly encountered the construction-related traffic crossing the Los Osos Valley Road (LOVR) overpass in the past year and a half… and we’re happy to say we were a part of this! Yes, we know that may sound strange. But although the Los Osos Valley Road Traffic Relief Project was difficult to get through, literally, it was an incredibly successful project that is bringing beneficial change to our community, which is why we are so proud to have been involved.

The Los Osos Valley Road Traffic Relief Project was a collaboration between the City of San Luis Obispo, SLOCOG and Caltransthat was in the works for many years. After breaking ground in November 2014 and 17 months of construction, the project completion was celebrated on March 29, 2016 with a ribbon cutting event. The project finished ahead of schedule and under the $24 million budget.

Verdin supported the LOVR Traffic Relief project with communications efforts from groundbreaking to ribbon cutting – we were there the whole way. We handled a number of responsibilities throughout the project, including:

• Coordinated and handled public relations for the groundbreaking event

• Executed a communications plan that included public relations and social media

• Facilitated the creation of the website, lovr101.org

• Managed the website, social media and communications hotline

• Created marketing materials as needed on an ongoing basis

• Coordinated and handled public relations for the ribbon cutting event

Both the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting events were attended by Mayor Jan Marx, representatives of federal and state offices, county officials, and local media. The event was a well-deserved celebration of the project for the city as a whole, but it was also a big moment of celebration and accomplishment for us at Verdin. Ensuring that the entire county is notified any time construction will happen is no easy task, but we were able to communicate traffic advisories to the community via the media, the project website and social media.

The new interchange, bridge and widened lanes will ease vehicle congestion and simplify transit through our city. We are very grateful to have been a part of such a successful project that will make the roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in San Luis Obispo County.