AVILA BEACH, San Luis Obispo County — October 29, 2026. People visiting the Bob Jones Trail should not assume their usual parking area off Ontario Road is available. San Luis Obispo County Public Works announced Thursday that maintenance is underway at the Bob Jones Ontario Road Trailhead parking lot and that the parking area is closed to the public during the work.

In a separate impact on drivers, the county has scheduled single-lane traffic controls on Ontario Road for Tuesday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Flaggers may direct vehicles through one open lane, with expected waits of five to ten minutes on workdays. The county’s notice also listed October 27–28 as earlier traffic-control dates.

Where is the closed lot?

The affected parking area is at the southern portion of the Bob Jones Trail off Ontario Road in Avila Beach. County officials said the site had been identified for needed repairs through the capital improvement and maintenance program. The announcement does not give a confirmed date when the parking area will reopen, and it should not be treated as an order closing the full length of the Bob Jones Trail.

Where can trail users park instead?

For the duration of the parking-lot closure, the county recommends that people enter the Bob Jones Trail from the Avila Beach trailhead nearest the beach. Visitors should check legal parking signs, accessibility, construction barricades and trail notices when they arrive. Do not park in closed construction areas or block private driveways.

How long will the traffic controls last?

The county release dated October 29 specifically identifies November 3 and 4 for upcoming lane restrictions. It says work-zone safety measures include signs, flaggers and barricades. A published project schedule may change, so this article is not a live traffic or parking-occupancy report.

How is this different from the Bob Jones Pathway gap project?

San Luis Obispo County separately announced SoCalGas pipeline relocation on South Higuera Street for the Bob Jones Pathway Gap Closure Project between the Octagon Barn and Cloverridge Lane. That work began October 28 and may continue for several weeks. It concerns a different stretch and different construction activity, not this Ontario Road trailhead parking maintenance.

Read our separate report on the South Higuera utility and pathway construction for details.

Official source and corrections

San Luis Obispo County Public Works, October 29, 2026: Ontario Road trailhead parking lot improvements and lane restrictions. County Public Works can be reached at (805) 781-5252.

California58 local transportation report, October 29, 2026. This article distinguishes a current parking-lot closure and scheduled traffic controls from separate trail-construction activity. Confirm changes with county officials and on-site notices.

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