Construction started this week on a nine-mile project from the western border of Joshua Tree to the eastern border of Twentynine Palms. The $4.7 million project will add two-way left turn lanes and widen the existing shoulders to a standard eight feet. The California Department of Transportation says the project is needed to address the higher-than-average number of collisions in which vehicles cross the center line. Typical work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. seven days a week, although night shifts are also possible. Around-the-clock lane closures are probable, but one lane in each direction will always be open. The project is expected to be completed in June. Please obey the lowered speed limits through the construction zone.
In addition, work is expected to begin shortly on installing raised curb medians and a traffic light in Morongo Valley. This $5.1 million project will take about a year to complete. The raised curb medians are being built to mitigate cross-over vehicle collisions. CalTrans says the temporary delineators that were installed two years ago were successful in reducing the number of cross-over, head-on collisions.
