Boronda Congestion Relief Project to begin Phase One

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - East Boronda Road in Salinas will soon look a little different. Salinas City Council discussed next steps for the Boronda Road Congestion Relief Project on Tuesday.

This project aims to widen the road and add roundabouts.

People living in the surrounding neighborhoods tell me they are tired of seeing traffic constantly backing up on East Boronda. Theyre hoping this project will reduce traffic and prevent accidents.

"Just like everyone else in the neighborhood. We try not to get on boronda because it's just so busy and backed up. So we do surface streets through the neighborhoods and it's not as safe," said Mark Steven who lives in Salinas.

The first phase includes the area between McKinnon and Dartmouth.

When finished, the project will turn Boronda Road into a four lane road with a roundabout installed at McKinnon street.

"The traffic backs up, especially during rush hour times. And, people are swerving in and out," said Stevens

"We live kind of in an area where there's so many schools, especially during the times when school kind of ends, the traffic really gets really heavy," said Jenny De La Cruz Robles who lives in Salinas.

When all phases of the project are done, additional multi-lane round-abouts will be installed at el dorado drive, natividad road, and independence boulevard.

Bike lanes, bus pullouts, sidewalks, and ADA ramps are also included.

"Im very excited for brandy road. Thank you to our staff. I know this has been a long time coming," said Andrew Sandoval, Salinas City Councilmember.

The city is looking at transferring an additional $5.3 million dollars for the project, given the lowest bid exceeds the original engineer estimate.

With several schools and a shopping center there are some worries about new roundabouts in the city.

"It'll get some getting used to since there's almost no roundabouts in this area. People are kind of scared of them because they don't know how to use them. But I think over time people will kind of get accustomed to it and it will overall have a good impact," said Jenny De La Cruz Robles who lives in Salinas.

"It'll take a learning curve for everyone to get used to it, but, it improves traffic flow, and, people are just going to have to slow down and adjust to it," said Stevens.

The next two phases of these projects depend on funding and environmental permits.

The total estimated cost is about $20 million.