Public input sought for Williams Road improvement project

The blueprints are set for the Williams Road Improvement Project in Salinas. Now it’s just a matter of whether or not the changes are “feasible” to the area.

The City of Salinas wants that input from the public during a meeting scheduled to take place Monday night at the Firehouse Recreation Center.

City engineers are attempting to address several concerns related to traffic congestion and pedestrian safety on Williams Road.

The project extends from East Alisal to Grandhaven Street and at this time has no completion date.

One of the changes the city has planned includes adding a median stretching across Williams Road. There’s also plans to have additional lighting for the area.

“We’re doing this design in conjunction with an ‘undergrounding project,'” says Salinas Public Works Director, David Jacobs. “We will be taking the overhead utility lines and moving them underground.”

The current design has the city attempting to improve crosswalks at various intersections on Williams Road.

They say the changes are much needed given how busy it can get on that road, especially when school is in session with Alisal High School nearby.

“The more people we can get on bikes or walking, the more we can reduce the traffic congestion,” says Jacobs.

The other question is whether the city will reduce some of the parking in the area, too. There are residents who live off Williams Road, however, so their input is needed for this project to get out of the design phase.

As of now there’s no completion date for construction, nor is there a start date.

Those who want to provide input on this project can go to a meeting scheduled for July 8th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Firehouse Recreation Center on 1330 East Alisal Street.