East Boronda re-design project talks continue

East Boronda Road can get incredibly congested on school days. The City of Salinas acknowledged this years ago and are currently fine-tuning designs which would ease traffic.

The current model shows three phases: the first phase stretches from Dartmouth Way to McKinnon Street.

It would include a roundabout at McKinnon and widen the road along that stretch from one lane to two lanes going either direction.

Some delays are involved with that part of the project, however, as the Army Corps of Engineers has to sign off on the permits for it. For now they’re backed up on their workload because of the partial government shutdown.

“They’re splitting the permit because this entire stretch would also include Gabilan Creek,” says Salinas Public Works Assistant Engineer, Josie Lantaca. “They promised us they would get the simpler permit and split this permiting process.”

The second and third phase would stretch from McKinnon Street to Independence and possibly Hemingway Drive–widening the road throughout that stretch.

Meanwhile roundabouts would be placed at El Dorado, Natividad and Independence during those phases.

Salinas city council members approved a $400,000 grant to help fund some of the project this week.

Despite any potential delays, Lantaca says the city might be able to break ground on the first phase of the project some time in 2020.

“Our consultant just got an update that maybe by early 2020 we will get that permit,” says Lantaca.

Roundabouts are also posted at other streets that connect to East Boronda, including El Dorado, Natividad and Independence.

Hemingway Drive is also listed, however that project is too far down the road to consider at this time.