Funding For Gene Autry Trail Wind Wall Approved

Palm Springs City officials are taking a step forward in addressing a long-standing issue that has plagued drivers for over a decade—blowing sand leading to frequent road closures. On Wednesday night, the Palm Springs City Council awarded a $2.2 million contract to Deark E&C, Inc. to construct a 14.5 foot, permanent concrete wind wall along Gene Autry Trail, one of the city's most affected corridors.

Currently, North Gene Autry Trail and North Indian Canyon Drive remain closed due to low visibility caused by blowing sand. These closures are a familiar inconvenience for locals and visitors alike, including Mark Ware, a frequent Coachella Valley traveler who voiced his frustration: “Every time, yeah, we need to do something.”

The wind wall project has been in planning since the city placed a temporary wooden barrier along the west side of Gene Autry Trail twelve years ago. While that solution helped to some extent, it required ongoing repairs and failed to stop the closures altogether. The new concrete wall, standing at 14.5 feet tall, will stretch between East Via Escuela and the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge, replacing the plywood panels.

Though the city has not confirmed a construction start date, the build is expected to take approximately 120 working days—or roughly six months—once underway. The project is funded through Measure A, and officials hope it will provide a long-term solution to an ongoing challenge in the region.