Local & Community
Frequent Road Closures on Gene Autry Trail and Indian Canyon Drive Prompt Frustration, Action from Local Leaders
Repeated closures of Gene Autry Trail and Indian Canyon Drive are creating major traffic headaches for Desert Hot Springs residents—and city officials say they’re finally working on a long-term solution. Both roads serve as vital connections between Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs. But due to windstorms and environmental conditions, closures—sometimes lasting for weeks—have become all too common. Yessica Nieto, a Desert Hot Springs resident for over a decade, said the closures impacted her commute so severely that she was forced to move to Palm Springs.
“I work two jobs in Palm Springs. It would take me up to an hour and a half to get there. I had to move because the traffic was too much,” she said.
Even alternative routes are no easy fix. Another local said that detours can double commute times and increase fuel expenses, impacting both personal time and business costs. “I have to detour all the way to Date Palm Drive, and it turns a quick commute into a 40-minute trip,” he said.
Scott Matas, Mayor of Desert Hot Springs, says his city is working closely with Palm Springs on a $75 million plan to tackle the issue—beginning with an elevated roadway on Indian Canyon Drive. “We’ve received about $50 million in funding to design and eventually build a raised road segment near the railroad overpass,” Matas said.
The mayor also emphasized the safety implications. Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs is the nearest trauma center for Desert Hot Springs, and closures can delay critical emergency response times.
Mattis says the city hopes to begin construction on the Indian Canyon project as early as next year.
Credit: NBC News
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
May 6, 2025
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