After Decades in the Making, the Coachella Valley Link Is Finally Open

It’s been years in the making — but today, Coachella Valley residents can finally ride, walk, and roll along the completed Coachella Valley Link (CV Link).

The long-anticipated project offers a safe, scenic route for cyclists, joggers, and even low-speed electric vehicles — connecting communities across the valley while helping to reduce traffic and emissions. Over the years, it has transformed into one of the region’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure undertakings — linking cities throughout the valley and promoting a healthier, more sustainable way to travel.

Running primarily along the Whitewater Wash, the 40-mile multimodal path stretches from Palm Springs to Coachella, with a few minor diversions through certain areas.

According to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), the roughly $130 million project has been in development since 2009.

At the Bump and Grind Trail in Palm Desert, CVAG Executive Director Tom Kirk shared how the CV Link reflects the valley’s active lifestyle and its commitment to sustainability. Originally envisioned to connect every city across the Coachella Valley, the route currently skips Indian Wells and Rancho Mirage, which opted out of the project — leaving a roughly four-mile gap in the Palm Desert area.

In response, local officials have expanded bike lanes to maintain accessibility for cyclists.

Grand opening celebrations are taking place all week — with events already held in Coachella and Indio, and more to come across the valley.

Coming up in our 11 a.m. newscast, local cyclists tell us that the new pathway is a gamechanger -- denominating it as a life saver.