Know Before You Go: Monterey Avenue Work Kicks Off as Palm Springs Juggles Three Major Projects

It's time for Know Before You Go, our weekly look at the construction projects shaping your commute around the Coachella Valley. CV Sync Traffic Program Manager Kris Gunterson joined us in studio to break down what's happening and how to plan around it.

Palm Desert: Monterey Avenue Rehabilitation Project

Crews start work today on Monterey Avenue, and Gunterson says the project stretches from the freeway overpass down to Gerald Ford Drive. Expect curb and gutter work, repaving, and signal improvements, with the heaviest activity around Monterey and Dinah Shore. The project is expected to wrap up in October.

Gunterson says drivers should expect serious delays through the corridor. Use Cook Street or Bob Hope to avoid the area altogether, and if you're headed to the shopping centers nearby, Gunterson has mapped out alternate routes to get you there without the wait. Crews won't be working weekends, so Saturdays and Sundays remain the easiest time to pass through.

Palm Springs: Tahquitz Canyon Paving Project

The paving project on Tahquitz Canyon, running from Sunrise to El Cielo, hits the street this week, and Gunterson says to expect heavy congestion and plenty of traffic control in the area. To skip the slowdown, take Amado Road to the north or Ramon Road to the south.

Drainage improvements on Sunrise add to the congestion, so give yourself extra time if you're traveling through that stretch. Gunterson says anyone heading to Palm Springs International Airport should approach from the east on Kirk Douglas Way, since traffic backs up quickly near El Cielo.

Palm Springs: Via Escuela Signal and Racquet Club Paving

Work continues on the new traffic signal at Indian Canyon and Via Escuela, where crews are pouring the foundation for the signal cabinet and running additional fiber. Gunterson says the project is progressing well, and the new signal should be up by fall.

Just north of there, Racquet Club Drive is next in line. Paving work starts in September, so Gunterson says now is the time to start planning ahead for that stretch.

Palm Springs: Palm Canyon Bridge Project

The Palm Canyon Bridge project keeps moving, with crews now working on the median just north of the bridge. Gunterson says drivers should use Ramon Road to reach Belardo Road while that work is underway, instead of previously recommended routes. The detour adds a little time, but it keeps traffic moving.

Safety Tip

Gunterson's advice this week is simple: slow for the cone zone. With this much construction across the valley, and more starting this fall, plan ahead, slow down, and stay off the phone.

For real-time updates on these projects and more, visit CV Sync.