DOWNEY - City officials gathered this week to celebrate the end of construction on Lakewood Boulevard - at least from 5th Street to Florence Avenue.The $4.7 million project widened street lanes, rehabilitated pavements, curbs and sidewalks, and added new landscaped medians, decorative pedestrian lights, a state-of-the art irrigation system, and a 12-inch recycled water main. Speaking at a ceremony in front of Sizzler restaurant Tuesday, Mayor Roger Brossmer said the project utilized energy efficient technology. The pedestrian lighting, for example, uses LED technology that requires 40 percent less electricity than standard light bulbs. "This results in significant energy savings to the city in the long run," Brossmer said. The city used federal stimulus to fund much of the project. "The most impressive thing about this is that no General Fund dollars were used," Brossmer added. The final leg of the project calls for improving Lakewood Boulevard to the city's northern border at Telegraph Road. Securing funding for that job "will be more difficult, but I'm confident we can find the money," said Brossmer.

********** Published: March 15, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 48