A major project on Interstate 10 is set to start in the Eastern Coachella Valley, but exactly when it will start remains unknown. The end result, however, should be welcome news for travelers.
Need to know: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is gearing up for a 13-mile pavement rehabilitation project on a stretch of I-10 from roughly Coachella to Box Canyon Road, near Chiriaco Summit.
- Crews will work to improve the structural integrity of pavement in both the eastbound and westbound lanes as well as add an eastbound truck climbing lane and other safety improvements.
- Solar-powered EV charging stations will also be built.
The goal: Caltrans says this major east-west connector route experiences heavy traffic volumes and needs these updates to improve ride quality for people and goods. The truck climbing lane should help traffic flow, and we suspect it will ease some driver tensions.
Details: The project area spans approximately 13 miles of freeway starting near Coachella and runs between 1.8 miles east of the Dillon Road Interchange and two miles east of the Cactus City Rest Area.
- Caltrans has not given a specific date for the start of the project, or any details on lane closures. A website dedicated to the project states the work will begin in “late 2022” and that the project will take three-and-a-half years to complete.
